Oxytocin receptor gene methylation as a molecular marker for severity of depressive symptoms in affective disorder patients

Ludwig, Birgit; Carlberg, Laura; Kienesberger, Klemens; Swoboda, Patrick; Swoboda, Marleen Margret Mignon; Bernegger, Alexandra; Koller, Romina; Inaner, Michelle; Fuxjäger, Monika; Zotter, Melanie; Schmelzle, Nicolas; Senft, Birgit; Meisner, Lisa; Fischer-Hansal, Daniela; Huber, Jasmin; Schoenthaler, Silvia; Kapusta, Nestor D.; Haslacher, Helmuth; Anders, Martin; Weinhaeusel, Andreas; Kasper, S.; Schosser, Alexandra

doi:10.1186/s12888-022-04031-w

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Ludwig B. et al [37]suggest a positive but nonsignificant association between the severity of depression symptoms and OXTR methylation. Also, the severity of emotional neglect in patients with affective disorders, but not childhood adverse experiences, was associated with OXTR methylation levels.…”

Section: Madrs (Montgomery-åsbergdepressionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Epigenetic and Coping Mechanisms of Stress in Affective Disorders: a Scoping Review

Bernad,

Tomescu,

Teodora

et al. 2024

Preprint

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This review aims to explore the intricate relationship between epigenetic mechanisms, stress, and affective disorders, focusing on how early life experiences and coping mechanisms contribute to susceptibility to mood disorders. Epigenetic factors play a crucial role in regulating gene expression without altering the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence, and recent research has revealed associations between epigenetic changes and maladaptive responses to stress or psychiatric disorders. A scoping review of 33 studies employing the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses – Statement) guidelines investigates the role of stress-induced epigenetic mechanisms and coping strategies in affective disorders' occurrence, development, and progression. The analysis encompasses various stress factors, including childhood trauma, work-related stress, and dietary deficiencies, alongside epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and altered gene expression. Findings indicate that specific stress-related genes frequently exhibit epigenetic changes associated with affective disorders. Moreover, the review examines coping mechanisms in patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, revealing mixed associations between coping strategies and symptom severity. While active coping is correlated with better outcomes, emotion-focused coping may exacerbate depressive or manic episodes. Overall, this review underscores the complex interplay between genetic predisposition, environmental stressors, coping mechanisms, and affective disorders. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing targeted interventions and personalized treatment strategies for individuals with mood disorders. However, further research is needed to elucidate specific genomic loci involved in affective disorders and the clinical implications of coping strategies in therapeutic settings.

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Section: Madrs (Montgomery-åsbergdepressionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Epigenetic and Coping Mechanisms of Stress in Affective Disorders: a Scoping Review

Bernad,

Tomescu,

Teodora

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…There were attempts to correlate the level of methylation of the OXTR gene with the severity of depression, however, no significant association between these two parameters could be found, despite quite a large number (846) of tested patients [ 89 ]. On the other hand, earlier studies on OXTR methylation strongly suggested that functions of the oxytocin system, including OXTR-mediated signal transduction, may be involved in the attenuation of the fear response, which can protect against depression [ 90 ].…”

Section: Oxtr In Mental Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of the Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) in Human Diseases

Pierzynowska

Gaffke

Żabińska

et al. 2023

IJMS

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The oxytocin receptor (OXTR), encoded by the OXTR gene, is responsible for the signal transduction after binding its ligand, oxytocin. Although this signaling is primarily involved in controlling maternal behavior, it was demonstrated that OXTR also plays a role in the development of the nervous system. Therefore, it is not a surprise that both the ligand and the receptor are involved in the modulation of behaviors, especially those related to sexual, social, and stress-induced activities. As in the case of every regulatory system, any disturbances in the structures or functions of oxytocin and OXTR may lead to the development or modulation of various diseases related to the regulated functions, which in this case include either mental problems (autism, depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorders) or those related to the functioning of reproductive organs (endometriosis, uterine adenomyosis, premature birth). Nevertheless, OXTR abnormalities are also connected to other diseases, including cancer, cardiac disorders, osteoporosis, and obesity. Recent reports indicated that the changes in the levels of OXTR and the formation of its aggregates may influence the course of some inherited metabolic diseases, such as mucopolysaccharidoses. In this review, the involvement of OXTR dysfunctions and OXTR polymorphisms in the development of different diseases is summarized and discussed. The analysis of published results led us to suggest that changes in OXTR expression and OXTR abundance and activity are not specific to individual diseases, but rather they influence processes (mostly related to behavioral changes) that might modulate the course of various disorders. Moreover, a possible explanation of the discrepancies in the published results of effects of the OXTR gene polymorphisms and methylation on different diseases is proposed.

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“…A greater DNA methylation level in the OXTR gene was shown in subjects with anxiety and depression who carried the rs53576 AA genotype in the OXTR gene, in comparison with controls (Chagnon et al, 2015 ). Ludwig et al found that OXTR promoter methylation level was positively but not significantly associated with the severity of depression symptoms in affective disorder individuals (Ludwig et al, 2022 ). Altogether, the evidence may support the roles of epigenetic and genetic changes in the OXTR gene in the development of many psychiatric disorders and the structural and functional abnormalities in the brain ( Figure 5 ).…”

Section: The Involvement Of Genomic Epigenetic Modification and Gene ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Involvement of oxytocin receptor deficiency in psychiatric disorders and behavioral abnormalities

Wei

Zheng

Li³

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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Oxytocin and its target receptor (oxytocin receptor, OXTR) exert important roles in the regulation of complex social behaviors and cognition. The oxytocin/OXTR system in the brain could activate and transduce several intracellular signaling pathways to affect neuronal functions or responses and then mediate physiological activities. The persistence and outcome of the oxytocin activity in the brain are closely linked to the regulation, state, and expression of OXTR. Increasing evidence has shown that genetic variations, epigenetic modification states, and the expression of OXTR have been implicated in psychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits, especially in autism. Among these variations and modifications, OXTR gene methylation and polymorphism have been found in many patients with psychiatric disorders and have been considered to be associated with those psychiatric disorders, behavioral abnormalities, and individual differences in response to social stimuli or others. Given the significance of these new findings, in this review, we focus on the progress of OXTR's functions, intrinsic mechanisms, and its correlations with psychiatric disorders or deficits in behaviors. We hope that this review can provide a deep insight into the study of OXTR-involved psychiatric disorders.

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Oxytocin receptor gene methylation as a molecular marker for severity of depressive symptoms in affective disorder patients

Cited by 7 publications

References 38 publications

Epigenetic and Coping Mechanisms of Stress in Affective Disorders: a Scoping Review

Epigenetic and Coping Mechanisms of Stress in Affective Disorders: a Scoping Review

Roles of the Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) in Human Diseases

Involvement of oxytocin receptor deficiency in psychiatric disorders and behavioral abnormalities

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