Epigenetic Effects in HPA Axis Genes Associated with Cortical Thickness, ERP Components and SUD Outcome

Shirley Y. Hill; Jeannette L. Wellman; Nicholas Zezza; Stuart R. Steinhauer; Vinod Sharma; Brian Holmes

doi:10.3390/bs12100347

Behavioral Sciences (Sep 2022)

Epigenetic Effects in HPA Axis Genes Associated with Cortical Thickness, ERP Components and SUD Outcome

Shirley Y. Hill,
Jeannette L. Wellman,
Nicholas Zezza,
Stuart R. Steinhauer,
Vinod Sharma,
Brian Holmes

Affiliations

Shirley Y. Hill: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Jeannette L. Wellman: Department of Psychiatry and Magee Women’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Nicholas Zezza: Department of Psychiatry and Shadyside Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Stuart R. Steinhauer: Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
Vinod Sharma: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Brian Holmes: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12100347
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 10
p. 347

Abstract

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Association between familial loading for alcohol use disorders (AUD) and event-related potentials (ERPs) suggests a genetic basis for these oscillations though much less is known about epigenetic pathways influenced by environmental variation. Early life adversity (ELA) influences negative outcomes much later in life. The stress-activated neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) contributes to the deleterious effects of ELA on brain structure and function in animals. Accordingly, we hypothesized that ELA would be related to cortical thickness and electrophysiological characteristics through an epigenetic effect on CRH receptor type-1 (CRHR1) methylation. A total of 217 adolescent and young adult participants from either multiplex alcohol dependence or control families were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T and cortical thickness was determined. Longitudinal follow-up across childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood provided developmental ERP data and measures of adversity. Blood samples for genetic and epigenetic analyses were obtained in childhood. Cortical thickness and visual ERP components were analyzed for their association and tested for familial risk group differences. Visual P300 amplitude at Pz and cortical thickness of the left lateral orbitofrontal region (LOFC), were significantly related to risk group status. LOFC cortical thickness showed a negative correlation with CRHR1 methylation status and with childhood total stress scores from the Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory (LISRES). Stress scores were also significantly related to P300 amplitude recorded in childhood. The present results suggest that early life adversity reflected in greater total LISRES stress scores in childhood can impact the methylation of the CRHR1 gene with implications for brain development as seen in cortical thickness and electrophysiological signals emanating from particular brain regions.

Published in Behavioral Sciences

ISSN: 2076-328X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/behavsci

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