Cited by 33Epigenetics and DNA MethylationGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

A MIR4646 associated methylation locus is hypomethylated in adolescent depression

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Boström, Adrian E., Ciuculete, Diana-Maria, Attwood, Misty, Krattinger, Regina, Nikontovic, Lamia, Titova, Olga E., Kullak-Ublick, Gerd A., Mwinyi, Jessica +1 more·2017·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Studies of epigenetics and transcriptional activity in adolescents may provide knowledge about possible preventive strategies of depression. METHODS: We present a methylome-wide association study (MWAS) and cohort validation analysis of depression in adolescents, in two separate cohorts: discovery (n=93) and validation data set 1 (n=78). The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured from whole blood using the Illumina 450K array. A second validation cohort, validation data set 2, consists of post-mortem brain biopsies from depressed adults (n=58). We performed a MWAS by robust multiple linear regressions of methylation to a modified risk-score assessment of depression. Methylation levels of candidate CpG sites were correlated with expression levels of the associated gene in an independent cohort of 11 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The methylation state of two CpG sites reliably predicted ratings of depression in adolescents (cg13227623 and cg04102384) (p<10E-06). Cohort validation analysis confirmed cg04102384 - located in the promoter region of microRNA 4646 (MIR4646) - to be hypomethylated in both validation data set 1 and validation data set 2 (p<0.05). Cg04102384 was inversely correlated to expression levels of MIR4646-3p in healthy controls (p<0.05). LIMITATIONS: MIR4646 was not differentially expressed in a subset of samples with adolescent depression measured by qRT-PCR measurements. CONCLUSION: We identify a specific MIR4646 associated epigenetic risk site to be associated with depression in adolescents. Cg04102384 putatively regulates gene expression of MIR4646-3p. Target gene prediction and gene set overrepresentation analysis revealed involvement of this miRNA in fatty acid elongation, a process related to omega-3 fatty acids, previously associated with depression.

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  1. Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., Maniatis, T., 1989. MOLECULAR CLONING A LABORATORY MANUALSECOND EDITION VOLS. 1 2 AND 3. Sambrook J E F Fritsch and T Maniatis Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual Second Edition Vols 1 2 and 3 XxxixPagination VariesVol 1 XxxiiiPagination VariesVol 2 XxxiiPagination VariesVol 3. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

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Authors
Boström, A. E., Ciuculete, D.-M., Attwood, M., Krattinger, R., Nikontovic, L., Titova, O. E., Kullak-Ublick, G. A., Mwinyi, J., & Schiöth, H. B.
Affiliations
  • Uppsala University (SE)
  • University of Zurich (CH)
Corresponding author
Boström, Adrian E.
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-10
Volume
220
Pages
117-128
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2615870196
Cited by
33
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3
FWCI
1.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
Latvian Council of Science
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
adolescent depression, DNA methylation, promoter hypomethylation, CpG sites, methylome-wide association study, postmortem brain, fatty acid elongation, omega-3 fatty acids, gene expression regulation
MeSH terms
Fatty Acid Elongases, Acetyltransferases, Adolescent, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Cohort Studies, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Gene Expression, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, MicroRNAs, Epigenesis, Genetic, Genome-Wide Association Study, Epigenomics, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

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