title: Association of DNA Methylation with Acute Mania and Inflammatory Markers.
abstract: In order to determine whether epigenetic changes specific to the manic mood state can be detected in peripheral blood samples we assayed DNA methylation levels genome-wide in serum samples obtained from 20 patients hospitalized for mania and 20 unaffected controls using the Illumina 450K methylation arrays. We identified a methylation locus in the CYP11A1 gene, which is regulated by corticotropin, that is hypo-methylated in individuals hospitalized for mania compared with unaffected controls. DNA methylation levels at this locus appear to be state related as levels in follow-up samples collected from mania patients six months after hospitalization were similar to those observed in controls. In addition, we found that methylation levels at the CYP11A1 locus were significantly correlated with three inflammatory markers in serum in acute mania cases but not in unaffected controls. We conclude that mania is associated with alterations in levels of DNA methylation and inflammatory markers. Since epigenetic markers are potentially malleable, a better understanding of the role of epigenetics may lead to new methods for the prevention and treatment of mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sarven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabunciyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brion
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahn
authors.affiliation: Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yolken
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme