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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Precision medicine in psychiatry is still in its infancy. To establish patient-tailored treatment, adequate indicators predicting treatment response are required. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered one of the most effective options for pharmacoresistant major depressive disorder (MDD), yet remission rates were reported to be below 50%.Methods
Since epigenetics of the stress response system seem to play a role in MDD, we analyzed the DNA methylation (DNAm) of genes encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) through Sanger Sequencing. For analysis, blood was taken before and after the first and last ECT from MDD patients (n=31), unmedicated depressed controls (UDC; n=19, baseline), and healthy controls (HC; n=20, baseline).Results
Baseline DNAm in NR3C1 was significantly lower in UDCs compared to both other groups (UDC: 0.014(±0.002), ECT: 0.031(±0.001), HC: 0.024(±0.002); p<0.001), whereas regarding POMC, ECT patients had the highest DNAm levels (ECT: 0.252(±0.013), UDC: 0.156(±0.015), HC: 0.162(±0.014); p<0.001). NR3C1m and POMCm decreased after the first ECT (NR3C1: p<0.001; POMC: p=0.001), and responders were less methylated compared to non-responders in NR3C1(p<0.001).Discussion
Our findings indicate that both genes might play a role in the chronification of depression and NR3C1 may be relevant for ECT response prediction.
SUBMITTER: Maier HB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10070046 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Maier Hannah B HB Moschny Nicole N Eberle Franziska F Jahn Kirsten K Folsche Thorsten T Schülke Rasmus R Bleich Stefan S Frieling Helge H Neyazi Alexandra A
Pharmacopsychiatry 20230321 2
<h4>Introduction</h4>Precision medicine in psychiatry is still in its infancy. To establish patient-tailored treatment, adequate indicators predicting treatment response are required. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered one of the most effective options for pharmacoresistant major depressive disorder (MDD), yet remission rates were reported to be below 50%.<h4>Methods</h4>Since epigenetics of the stress response system seem to play a role in MDD, we analyzed the DNA methylation (DNAm) ...[more]