DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research 2019-09, Vol.116, p.42-50
• Main Authors: Mehta, Divya, Pelzer, Elise S., Bruenig, Dagmar, Lawford, Bruce, McLeay, Sarah, Morris, Charles P., Gibson, John N., Young, Ross McD, Voisey, Joanne, Harvey, Wendy, Romaniuk, Madeline, Crawford, Darrell, Colquhoun, David, Dwyer, Miriam, Gibson, John, O'Sullivan, Robyn, Cooksley, Graham, Strakosch, Christopher, Thomson, Rachel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Combat exposure; DNA methylation; PTSD; Sperm; Transgenerational; Veterans
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.001

In this study we investigated genome-wide sperm DNA methylation patterns in trauma-exposed Vietnam veterans. At the genome-wide level, we identified 3 CpG sites associated with PTSD in sperm including two intergenic and one CpG within the CCDC88C gene. Of those associated with PTSD in sperm at a nominal level, 1868 CpGs were also associated with PTSD in peripheral blood (5.6% overlap) including the RORA, CRHR1 and DOCK2 genes that have been previously implicated in PTSD. A total of 10 CpG sites were significantly associated with a reported history of a diagnosed mental health condition in children and reached genome-wide significance. CpGs associated with a history of a reported mental health condition in children were also enriched (90% of tested genes) for genes previously reported to be resistant to demethylation, making them strong candidates for transgenerational inheritance. In conclusion, our findings identify a unique sperm-specific DNA methylation pattern that is associated with PTSD.