title: A significant association between BDNF promoter methylation and the risk of drug addiction.
abstract: As a member of the neurotrophic factor family, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in the survival and differentiation of neurons. The aim of our work was to evaluate the role of BDNF promoter methylation in drug addiction. A total of 60 drug abusers (30 heroin and 30 methylamphetamine addicts) and 52 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were recruited for the current case control study. Bisulfite pyrosequencing technology was used to determine the methylation levels of five CpGs (CpG1-5) on the BDNF promoter. Among the five CpGs, CpG5 methylation was significantly lower in drug abusers than controls. Moreover, significant associations were found between CpG5 methylation and addictive phenotypes including tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, and depression-dejection. In addition, luciferase assay showed that the DNA fragment of BDNF promoter played a key role in the regulation of gene expression. Our results suggest that BDNF promoter methylation is associated with drug addiction, although further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms by which BDNF promoter methylation contributes to the pathophysiology of drug addiction.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
authors.forename: Xuting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
authors.forename: Guili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
authors.forename: Qinwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Huifen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Longhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China. Electronic address: whzhou@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China. Electronic address: duanshiwei@nbu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shiwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Addiction; BDNF; Heroin; Methylamphetamine; Methylation