Associations of DNA Methylation With Behavioral Problems, Gray Matter Volumes, and Negative Life Events Across Adolescence: Evidence From the Longitudinal IMAGEN Study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yan Sun - , Peking University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Tianye Jia - , Fudan University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Edward D. Barker - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Di Chen - , Fudan University (Author)
  • Zuo Zhang - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Jiayuan Xu - , Tianjin Medical University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Suhua Chang - , Peking University (Author)
  • Guangdong Zhou - , Tianjin Normal University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Yun Liu - , Fudan University (Author)
  • Nicole Tay - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Qiang Luo - , Fudan University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Xiao Chang - , Fudan University, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Tobias Banaschewski - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Arun L.W. Bokde - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Herta Flor - , Heidelberg University , University of Mannheim (Author)
  • Antoine Grigis - , French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (Author)
  • Hugh Garavan - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Andreas Heinz - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Jean Luc Martinot - , École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université (Author)
  • Marie Laure Paillère Martinot - , École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, Hospital Group Nord-Essonne (Author)
  • Eric Artiges - , INSERM - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Author)
  • Frauke Nees - , Heidelberg University , Kiel University (Author)
  • Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos - , French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (Author)
  • Tomáš Paus - , University of Montreal (Author)
  • Luise Poustka - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Sarah Hohmann - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Sabina Millenet - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Juliane H. Fröhner - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Michael N. Smolka - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Henrik Walter - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Robert Whelan - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Lin Lu - , Peking University (Author)
  • Jie Shi - , Peking University (Author)
  • Gunter Schumann - , Fudan University, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Sylvane Desrivières - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)

Abstract

Background: Negative life events (NLEs) increase the risk for externalizing behaviors (EBs) and internalizing behaviors (IBs) in adolescence and adult psychopathology. DNA methylation associated with behavioral problems may reflect this risk and long-lasting effects of NLEs. Methods: To identify consistent associations between blood DNA methylation and EBs or IBs across adolescence, we conducted longitudinal epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) using data from the IMAGEN cohort, collected at ages 14 and 19 years (n = 506). Significant findings were validated in a separate subsample (n = 823). Methylation risk scores were generated by 10-fold cross-validation and further tested for their associations with gray matter volumes and NLEs. Results: No significant findings were obtained for the IB-EWAS. The EB-EWAS identified a genome-wide significant locus in a gene linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (IQSEC1, cg01460382; p = 1.26 × 10−8). Other most significant CpG sites were near ADHD-related genes and enriched for genes regulating tumor necrosis factor and interferon-γ signaling, highlighting the relevance of EB-EWAS findings for ADHD. Analyses with the EB methylation risk scores suggested that it partly reflected comorbidity with IBs in late adolescence. Specific to EBs, EB methylation risk scores correlated with smaller gray matter volumes in medial orbitofrontal and anterior/middle cingulate cortices, brain regions known to associate with ADHD and conduct problems. Longitudinal mediation analyses indicated that EB-related DNA methylation were more likely the outcomes of problematic behaviors accentuated by NLEs, and less likely the epigenetic bases of such behaviors. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel epigenetic mechanisms through which NLEs exert short and longer-term effects on behavior may contribute to ADHD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)342-351
Number of pages10
JournalBiological psychiatry
Volume93(2023)
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36241462
ORCID /0000-0001-5398-5569/work/150329526
ORCID /0000-0002-8493-6396/work/150330251

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • ADHD, Adolescents, Brain, Epigenome-wide association study, Externalizing behaviors, Life events, Humans, Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging, Young Adult, Brain/pathology, DNA Methylation, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/genetics, Problem Behavior, Adolescent