@article{SchrautJakobWeidneretal.2014,
  author    = {Schraut, K. G. and Jakob, S. B. and Weidner, M. T. and Schmitt, A. G. and Scholz, C. J. and Strekalova, T. and El Hajj, N. and Eijssen, L. M. T. and Domschke, K. and Reif, A. and Haaf, T. and Ortega, G. and Steinbusch, H. W. M. and Lesch, K. P. and Van den Hove, D. L.},
  title     = {Prenatal stress-induced programming of genome-wide promoter DNA methylation in 5-HTT-deficient mice},
  series = {Translational Psychiatry},
  volume    = {4},
  journal   = {Translational Psychiatry},
  doi       = {10.1038/tp.2014.107},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119199},
  pages     = {e473},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT/SLC6A4)-linked polymorphic region has been suggested to have a modulatory role in mediating effects of early-life stress exposure on psychopathology rendering carriers of the low-expression short (s)-variant more vulnerable to environmental adversity in later life. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this gene-by-environment interaction are not well understood, but epigenetic regulation including differential DNA methylation has been postulated to have a critical role. Recently, we used a maternal restraint stress paradigm of prenatal stress (PS) in 5-HTT-deficient mice and showed that the effects on behavior and gene expression were particularly marked in the hippocampus of female 5-Htt+/- offspring. Here, we examined to which extent these effects are mediated by differential methylation of DNA. For this purpose, we performed a genome-wide hippocampal DNA methylation screening using methylated-DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) on Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Promoter 1.0 R arrays. Using hippocampal DNA from the same mice as assessed before enabled us to correlate gene-specific DNA methylation, mRNA expression and behavior. We found that 5-Htt genotype, PS and their interaction differentially affected the DNA methylation signature of numerous genes, a subset of which showed overlap with the expression profiles of the corresponding transcripts. For example, a differentially methylated region in the gene encoding myelin basic protein (Mbp) was associated with its expression in a 5-Htt-, PS- and 5-Htt × PS-dependent manner. Subsequent fine-mapping of this Mbp locus linked the methylation status of two specific CpG sites to Mbp expression and anxiety-related behavior. In conclusion, hippocampal DNA methylation patterns and expression profiles of female prenatally stressed 5-Htt+/- mice suggest that distinct molecular mechanisms, some of which are promoter methylation-dependent, contribute to the behavioral effects of the 5-Htt genotype, PS exposure and their interaction.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AboagyeWeberMerdianetal.2021,
  author    = {Aboagye, B. and Weber, T. and Merdian, H. L. and Bartsch, D. and Lesch, K. P. and Waider, J.},
  title     = {Serotonin deficiency induced after brain maturation rescues consequences of early life adversity},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-021-83592-4},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258626},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Brain serotonin (5-HT) system dysfunction is implicated in depressive disorders and acute depletion of 5-HT precursor tryptophan has frequently been used to model the influence of 5-HT deficiency on emotion regulation. Tamoxifen (TAM)-induced Cre/loxP-mediated inactivation of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene (Tph2) was used to investigate the effects of provoked 5-HT deficiency in adult mice (Tph2 icKO) previously subjected to maternal separation (MS). The efficiency of Tph2 inactivation was validated by immunohistochemistry and HPLC. The impact of Tph2 icKO in interaction with MS stress (Tph2 icKOxMS) on physiological parameters, emotional behavior and expression of 5-HT system-related marker genes were assessed. Tph2 icKO mice displayed a significant reduction in 5-HT immunoreactive cells and 5-HT concentrations in the rostral raphe region within four weeks following TAM treatment. Tph2 icKO and MS differentially affected food and water intake, locomotor activity as well as panic-like escape behavior. Tph2 icKO prevented the adverse effects of MS stress and altered the expression of the genes previously linked to stress and emotionality. In conclusion, an experimental model was established to study the behavioral and neurobiological consequences of 5-HT deficiency in adulthood in interaction with early-life adversity potentially affecting brain development and the pathogenesis of depressive disorders.},
  language  = {en}
}