The impact of aversive caregiving on DNA methylation in blood and the prefrontal cortex
Date
2020
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Aversive caregiving causes epigenetic alterations that may lead to neurological and behavioral problems later in life. These issues presumably originate in the brain, and, as such, epigenetic changes within the brain would appear to be the most relevant to better understand the origin of and possible alleviation of these issues. However, it is difficult to study epigenetics in the brain in living humans, so many researchers rely on epigenetic alterations in peripheral tissues to be an indication of aberrant epigenetic mechanisms within the brain. The reliability of using such epigenetic changes in the periphery as a proxy for that of the brain is still largely unknown. Rodent models provide a much-needed mechanism of testing whether epigenetic alterations in peripheral tissues like blood mirror that of the brain. The current study used a rodent model to examine changes in DNA methylation at two regions (exons IV and IX) of the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene in both the prefrontal cortex and blood following aversive caregiving. DNA methylation increased in response to aversive caregiving at exons IV and IX in both the prefrontal cortex and blood. Despite the similar group trends in both tissues in response to aversive caregiving, no correlations were found between DNA methylation in the brain and the blood. Data overall indicate that Bdnf DNA methylation in the blood and brain tissue is similarly responsive to early-life experiences, but the correlational analyses suggest that this relationship varies at the individual subject level.
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Keywords
Blood, Cross-tissue, DNA methylation, Early-life adversity, Prefrontal Cortex