Epigenetic Evidence for Involvement of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Overview

Journal BMC Neurosci

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Neurology

Date 2016 Dec 2

PMID 27903255

Citations 31

Authors

Carolina Cappi

Juliana Belo Diniz

Guaraci L Requena

Tiaya Lourenco

Bianca Cristina Garcia Lisboa

Marcelo Camargo Batistuzzo

Andrea H Marques

Marcelo Q Hoexter

Carlos A Pereira

Euripedes Constantino Miguel

Helena Brentani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that affects up to 3% of the general population. Although epigenetic mechanisms play a role in neurodevelopment disorders, epigenetic pathways associated with OCD have rarely been investigated. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide involved in neurobehavioral functions. Oxytocin has been shown to be associated with the regulation of complex socio-cognitive processes such as attachment, social exploration, and social recognition, as well as anxiety and other stress-related behaviors. Oxytocin has also been linked to the pathophysiology of OCD, albeit inconsistently. The aim of this study was to investigate methylation in two targets sequences located in the exon III of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), in OCD patients and healthy controls. We used bisulfite sequencing to quantify DNA methylation in peripheral blood samples collected from 42 OCD patients and 31 healthy controls.

Results: We found that the level of methylation of the cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites in two targets sequences analyzed was greater in the OCD patients than in the controls. The higher methylation in the OCD patients correlated with OCD severity. We measured DNA methylation in the peripheral blood, which prevented us from drawing any conclusions about processes in the central nervous system.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating DNA methylation of the OXTR in OCD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the roles that DNA methylation and oxytocin play in OCD.

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