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The neuroendocrine modulation of global DNA methylation in neuropsychiatric disorders

Molecular Psychiatry volume 26, pages 66–69 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

There is an increasing body of knowledge on the influence of differential DNA methylation of specific genomic regions in psychiatric disorders. However, fewer studies have addressed global DNA methylation (GMe) levels. GMe is an estimative of biological functioning that is regulated by pervasive mechanisms able to capture the big picture of metabolic and environmental influences upon gene expression. In the present perspective article, we highlighted evidence for the relationships between cortisol and sex hormones and GMe in psychiatric disorders. We argue that the far-reaching effects of cortisol and sexual hormones on GMe may lie on the pathways linking stress and mental health. Further research on these endocrine–epigenetic links may help to explain the role of environmental stress as well as sex differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

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Fig. 1: A schematic representation of the hypotheses given in the main text.

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Acknowledgements

This work received financial support from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Grants 466722/2014-1, 424041/2016-2, 426905/2016-2, 431472/2018-1, 140853/2019-7). Also, this study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001 and FIPE-HCPA 160600, GPPG-HCPA 01-321.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Diego L. Rovaris, Claiton H. D. Bau

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Diana Müller, Bruna Santos da Silva & Claiton H. D. Bau

  2. Adulthood ADHD Outpatient Program (ProDAH), Clinical Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Diana Müller, Eugenio Horacio Grevet, Bruna Santos da Silva, Diego L. Rovaris & Claiton H. D. Bau

  3. Developmental Psychiatry Program, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Diana Müller, Eugenio Horacio Grevet, Bruna Santos da Silva, Diego L. Rovaris & Claiton H. D. Bau

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Eugenio Horacio Grevet

  5. Graduate Program on Toxicology and Analytical Toxicology, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil

    Mariele Feiffer Charão

  6. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Diego L. Rovaris

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Correspondence to Claiton H. D. Bau.

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Conflict of interest

EHG was on the speaker’s bureau for Novartis and Shire for the last 3 years. He also received travel awards (air tickets and hotel accommodations) for participating in three psychiatric meetings from Shire and Novartis. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Müller, D., Grevet, E.H., da Silva, B.S. et al. The neuroendocrine modulation of global DNA methylation in neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 26, 66–69 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-020-00924-y

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