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A peripheral epigenetic signature of immune system genes is linked to neocortical thickness and memory

Authors :
Freytag, Virginie
Carrillo-Roa, Tania
Milnik, Annette
Mann, Philipp G. Sa
Vukojevic, Vanja
Coynel, David
Demougin, Philippe
Egli, Tobias
Gschwind, Leo
Jessen, Frank
Loos, Eva
Maier, Wolfgang
Riedel-Heller, Steffi G.
Scherer, Martin
Vogler, Christian
Wagner, Michael
Binder, Elisabeth B.
de Quervain, Dominique J. -F.
Papassotiropoulos, Andreas
Freytag, Virginie
Carrillo-Roa, Tania
Milnik, Annette
Mann, Philipp G. Sa
Vukojevic, Vanja
Coynel, David
Demougin, Philippe
Egli, Tobias
Gschwind, Leo
Jessen, Frank
Loos, Eva
Maier, Wolfgang
Riedel-Heller, Steffi G.
Scherer, Martin
Vogler, Christian
Wagner, Michael
Binder, Elisabeth B.
de Quervain, Dominique J. -F.
Papassotiropoulos, Andreas
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Increasing age is tightly linked to decreased thickness of the human neocortex. The biological mechanisms that mediate this effect are hitherto unknown. The DNA methylome, as part of the epigenome, contributes significantly to age-related phenotypic changes. Here, we identify an epigenetic signature that is associated with cortical thickness (P = 3.86 x 10(-8)) and memory performance in 533 healthy young adults. The epigenetic effect on cortical thickness was replicated in a sample comprising 596 participants with major depressive disorder and healthy controls. The epigenetic signature mediates partially the effect of age on cortical thickness (P < 0.001). A multilocus genetic score reflecting genetic variability of this signature is associated with memory performance (P = 0.0003) in 3,346 young and elderly healthy adults. The genomic location of the contributing methylation sites points to the involvement of specific immune system genes. The decomposition of blood methylome-wide patterns bears considerable potential for the study of brain-related traits.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1201324099
Document Type :
Electronic Resource