Cited by 79Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchEpigenetics and DNA MethylationChild Abuse and Trauma

Genomewide DNA methylation analysis in combat veterans reveals a novel locus for PTSD

Mehta, D., Bruenig, D., Carrillo‐Roa, T., Lawford, B., Harvey, W., Morris, C. P., Smith, A. K., Binder, E. B. +2 more·2017·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

Abstract

Objective Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may play a key role in the aetiology and serve as biomarkers for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We performed a genomewide analysis to identify genes whose DNA methylation levels are associated with PTSD. Method A total of 211 individuals comprising Australian male Vietnam War veterans (n = 96) and males from a general population belonging to the Grady Trauma Project (n = 115) were included. Genomewide DNA methylation was performed from peripheral blood using the Illumina arrays. Data analysis was performed using generalized linear regression models. Results Differential DNA methylation of 17 previously reported PTSD candidate genes was associated with PTSD symptom severity. Genomewide analyses revealed CpG sites spanning BRSK1, LCN8, NFG and DOCK2 genes were associated with PTSD symptom severity. We replicated the findings of DOCK2 in an independent cohort. Pathway analysis revealed that among the associated genes, genes within actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion molecular pathways were enriched. Conclusion These data highlight the role of DNA methylation as biomarkers of PTSD. The results support the role of previous candidates and uncover novel genes associated with PTSD, such as DOCK2. This study contributes to our understanding of the biological underpinnings of PTSD.

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Crossref · 10.1111/acps.12778

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  • Epigenetic studies have associated PTSD with differential DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in HPA-axis stress genes such as NR3C1 and FKBP5.

    “Epigenetic studies have associated PTSD with differential DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in HPA-axis stress genes such as Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 3 Group C Member 1 (NR3C1) and FK06 Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5; e.g., Klengel, Pape, Binder & Mehta, 2014;Mehta et al., 2017).”

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Authors
Mehta, D., Bruenig, D., Carrillo‐Roa, T., Lawford, B., Harvey, W., Morris, C. P., Smith, A. K., Binder, E. B., Young, R. M., & Voisey, J.
Affiliations
  • Queensland University of Technology (AU)
  • Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (DE)
  • Greenslopes Private Hospital (AU)
  • Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Mehta, D.
Venue
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-08-09
Volume
136
Issue
5
Pages
493-505
ISSN
  • 0001-690X (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0447
OpenAlex
W2743062830
Cited by
78
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9
FWCI
8.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
post-traumatic stress disorder, DNA methylation, epigenetics, combat veterans, Vietnam War veterans, DOCK2, actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions, PTSD symptom severity
MeSH terms
Aged, Australia, Combat Disorders, Humans, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Biomarkers, DNA Methylation, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, GTPase-Activating Proteins, Vietnam Conflict

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