Mild internet use is associated with epigenetic alterations of key neurotransmission genes in salivary DNA of young university students

Eugenia Annunzi; Loreta Cannito; Fabio Bellia; Francesca Mercante; Matteo Vismara; Beatrice Benatti; Alberto Di Domenico; Riccardo Palumbo; Walter Adriani; Bernardo Dell’Osso; Claudio D’Addario

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-49492-5

Scientific Reports (Dec 2023)

Mild internet use is associated with epigenetic alterations of key neurotransmission genes in salivary DNA of young university students

Eugenia Annunzi,
Loreta Cannito,
Fabio Bellia,
Francesca Mercante,
Matteo Vismara,
Beatrice Benatti,
Alberto Di Domenico,
Riccardo Palumbo,
Walter Adriani,
Bernardo Dell’Osso,
Claudio D’Addario

Affiliations

Eugenia Annunzi: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara
Loreta Cannito: Department of Humanities, University of Foggia
Fabio Bellia: Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo
Francesca Mercante: Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo
Matteo Vismara: Department of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco”, University of Milan, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco
Beatrice Benatti: Department of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco”, University of Milan, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco
Alberto Di Domenico: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara
Riccardo Palumbo: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara
Walter Adriani: Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Bernardo Dell’Osso: Department of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco”, University of Milan, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco
Claudio D’Addario: Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49492-5
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

Read online

Abstract The potentially problematic use of the Internet is a growing concern worldwide, which causes and consequences are not completely understood yet. The neurobiology of Internet addiction (IA) has attracted much attention in scientific research, which is now focusing on identifying measurable biological markers. Aim of this study was to investigate epigenetic and genetic regulation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR), dopamine transporter (DAT1) and serotonin transporter (SERT) genes using DNA obtained from saliva samples of young university students: the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was administered to evaluate the potential existence and intensity of IA. Significant changes in DNA methylation levels at OXTR, DAT1 and SERT genes were observed in the 30 50 subjects (considered as moderately addicted). Moreover, epigenetic markers were significantly correlated, either directly (for OXTR and DAT1) or inversely (OXTR and DAT1 versus SERT), to the psychometric properties. Our data confirmed the association of OXTR, DAT1 and SERT genes in processes related to behavioural addictions and might be of relevance to suggest possible biological predictors of altered behaviours and the eventual vulnerability to develop an IA. Different other genetic pathways have been suggested to play a role in IA and research is ongoing to better define them, in order to help in the early diagnosis as well as in the development of new potential treatments.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

About the journal