The role of BDNF methylation and Val66Met in amygdala reactivity during emotion processing

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ronny Redlich - , University of Münster (Joint first author)
  • Ilona Schneider - , University of Münster (Joint first author)
  • Nicole Kerkenberg - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Nils Opel - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Jonas Bauhaus - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Verena Enneking - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Jonathan Repple - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Elisabeth J. Leehr - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Dominik Grotegerd - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Claas Kähler - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Katharina Förster - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Katharina Dohm - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Susanne Meinert - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Tim Hahn - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Harald Kugel - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Kathrin Schwarte - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Christiane Schettler - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Katharina Domschke - , University of Münster, University of Freiburg (Author)
  • Volker Arolt - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Walter Heindel - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Bernhard T. Baune - , University of Münster, University of Melbourne (Author)
  • Weiqi Zhang - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Christa Hohoff - , University of Münster (Joint last author)
  • Udo Dannlowski - , University of Münster (Joint last author)

Abstract

Epigenetic alterations of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene have been associated with psychiatric disorders in humans and with differences in amygdala BDNF mRNA levels in rodents. This human study aimed to investigate the relationship between the functional BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism, its surrounding DNA methylation in BDNF exon IX, amygdala reactivity to emotional faces, and personality traits. Healthy controls (HC, n = 189) underwent functional MRI during an emotional face-matching task. Harm avoidance, novelty seeking and reward dependence were measured using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Individual BDNF methylation profiles were ascertained and associated with several BDNF single nucleotide polymorphisms surrounding the BDNF-Val66Met, amygdala reactivity, novelty seeking and harm avoidance. Higher BDNF methylation was associated with higher amygdala reactivity (x = 34, y = 0, z = −26, t(166) = 3.00, TFCE = 42.39, p(FWE) =.045), whereby the BDNF-Val66Met genotype per se did not show any significant association with brain function. Furthermore, novelty seeking was negatively associated with BDNF methylation (r = −.19, p =.015) and amygdala reactivity (r = −.17, p =.028), while harm avoidance showed a trend for a positive association with BDNF methylation (r =.14, p =.066). The study provides first insights into the relationship among BDNF methylation, BDNF genotype, amygdala reactivity and personality traits in humans, highlighting the multidimensional relations among genetics, epigenetics, and neuronal functions. The present study suggests a possible involvement of epigenetic BDNF modifications in psychiatric disorders and related brain functions, whereby high BDNF methylation might reduce BDNF mRNA expression and upregulate amygdala reactivity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)594-604
Number of pages11
JournalHuman brain mapping
Volume41
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2020
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31617281

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • amygdala reactivity, BDNF, fMRI, methylation, novelty seeking, Val66Met

Library keywords