Methylation of the tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 gene is associated with mRNA expression in patients with major depression with suicide attempts

  • Authors:
    • Yuqi Zhang
    • Zaohuo Chang
    • Jionghua Chen
    • Yang Ling
    • Xiaowei Liu
    • Zhang Feng
    • Caixia Chen
    • Minghua Xia
    • Xingfu Zhao
    • Wang Ying
    • Xu Qing
    • Guilin Li
    • Changsong Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 7, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3748
  • Pages: 3184-3190
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 (TPH2) contributes to alterations in the function of neuronal serotonin (5‑HT), which are associated with various psychopathologies, including major depressive disorder (MDD) or suicidal behavior. The methylation of a single CpG site in the promoter region of TPH2 affects gene expression. Suicide and MDD are strongly associated and genetic factors are at least partially responsible for the variability in suicide risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether variations in TPH2 methylation in peripheral blood samples may predispose patients with MDD to suicide attempts. TPH2 mRNA expression levels differed significantly between 50 patients with MDD who had attempted suicide (MDD + suicide group) and 75 control patients with MDD (MDD group); TPH2 expression levels were significantly decreased (P=0.0005) in the patients who had attempted suicide. Furthermore, the frequency of TPH2 methylation was 36.0% in the MDD + suicide group, while it was 13.0% in the MDD group. The results of the present study demonstrated that methylation in the promoter region of TPH2 significantly affected the mRNA expression levels of TPH2, thus suggesting that methylation of the TPH2 promoter may silence TPH2 mRNA expression in MDD patients with or without suicidal behavior. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the methylation status of the TPH2 promoter and depression, hopelessness and cognitive impairment in the MDD + suicide group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that TPH2 expression was regulated by DNA methylation of the TPH2 promoter region in patients with MDD.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2015
Volume 12 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang Y, Chang Z, Chen J, Ling Y, Liu X, Feng Z, Chen C, Xia M, Zhao X, Ying W, Ying W, et al: Methylation of the tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 gene is associated with mRNA expression in patients with major depression with suicide attempts. Mol Med Rep 12: 3184-3190, 2015.
APA
Zhang, Y., Chang, Z., Chen, J., Ling, Y., Liu, X., Feng, Z. ... Zhang, C. (2015). Methylation of the tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 gene is associated with mRNA expression in patients with major depression with suicide attempts. Molecular Medicine Reports, 12, 3184-3190. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3748
MLA
Zhang, Y., Chang, Z., Chen, J., Ling, Y., Liu, X., Feng, Z., Chen, C., Xia, M., Zhao, X., Ying, W., Qing, X., Li, G., Zhang, C."Methylation of the tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 gene is associated with mRNA expression in patients with major depression with suicide attempts". Molecular Medicine Reports 12.2 (2015): 3184-3190.
Chicago
Zhang, Y., Chang, Z., Chen, J., Ling, Y., Liu, X., Feng, Z., Chen, C., Xia, M., Zhao, X., Ying, W., Qing, X., Li, G., Zhang, C."Methylation of the tryptophan hydroxylase‑2 gene is associated with mRNA expression in patients with major depression with suicide attempts". Molecular Medicine Reports 12, no. 2 (2015): 3184-3190. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3748