Relationships between serotonin 1A receptor DNA methylation, self-reported history of childhood abuse and gray matter volume in major depression.

Background: Early life adversity is a risk factor for psychopathology and is associated with epigenetic alterations in the 5-HT receptor gene promoter. The 5-HT receptor mediates neurotrophic effects, which could affect brain structure and function. We examined relationships between self-reported early childhood abuse, 5-HT receptor promoter DNA methylation, and gray matter volume (GMV) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Plasma cytokine and growth factor response to acute psychosocial stress in major depressive disorder.

Background: Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α are elevated in response to psychosocial stress; however, less is known about other inflammatory markers.

Methods: We explored response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) of 16 cytokines and growth factors in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 12) vs. healthy volunteers (HV, n = 16).

Brain serotonin 1A receptor binding: relationship to peripheral blood DNA methylation, recent life stress and childhood adversity in unmedicated major depression.

Background: Childhood and lifetime adversity may reduce brain serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission by epigenetic mechanisms.

Aims: We tested the relationships of childhood adversity and recent stress to serotonin 1A (5-HT) receptor genotype, DNA methylation of this gene in peripheral blood monocytes and 5-HT receptor binding potential (BP) determined by positron emission tomography (PET) in 13 brain regions, in participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy volunteers (controls).

Method: Medication-free participants with MDD ( = 192: 110 female, 81 male, 1 other) and controls ( = 88: 48 female, 40 male) were interviewed about childhood adversity and recent stressors and genotyped for rs6295.

A neuronal action of sirtuin 1 suppresses bone mass in young and aging mice.

The various functions of the skeleton are influenced by extracellular cues, hormones, and neurotransmitters. One type of neuronal regulation favors bone mass accrual by inhibiting sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. This observation raises questions about the transcriptional mechanisms regulating catecholamine synthesis.

Continuous polymerase chain reaction microfluidics integrated with a gold-capped nanoslit sensing chip for Epstein-Barr virus detection.

We present the first combination of a microfluidic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a gold nanoslit-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for detecting the DNA sequence of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The PCR microchannel was produced through a laser scribing technique, and the SPR nanoslit chip was manufactured via hot-embossing nanoimprinting lithography. Afterward, the LMP1 DNA probe was adsorbed onto the SPR chip of the integrated device through electrostatic interactions for further detection.

Association of serotonin system-related genes with homicidal behavior and criminal aggression in a prison population of Pakistani Origin.

The serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), 5-HT (HTR2A) and 5-HT (HTR2B) recepter genes, express proteins that are important regulators of serotonin reuptake and signaling, and thereby may contribute to the pathogenesis of aggressive criminal behavior. 370 sentenced murderers in Pakistani prisons and 359 men without any history of violence or criminal delinquency were genotyped for six candidate polymorphisms in SLC6A4, HTR2A and HTR2B genes. An association of higher expressing L/L and L/L variants of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was observed with homicidal behavior (bi-allelic: OR = 1.

Characterization of lipid rafts in human platelets using nuclear magnetic resonance: A pilot study.

Lipid microdomains ('lipid rafts') are plasma membrane subregions, enriched in cholesterol and glycosphingolipids, which participate dynamically in cell signaling and molecular trafficking operations. One strategy for the study of the physicochemical properties of lipid rafts in model membrane systems has been the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), but until now this spectroscopic method has not been considered a clinically relevant tool. We performed a proof-of-concept study to test the feasibility of using NMR to study lipid rafts in human tissues.

Serotonin-reuptake inhibitors act centrally to cause bone loss in mice by counteracting a local anti-resorptive effect.

The use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been associated with an increased risk of bone fracture, raising concerns about their increasingly broader usage. This deleterious effect is poorly understood, and thus strategies to avoid this side effect remain elusive. We show here that fluoxetine (Flx), one of the most-prescribed SSRIs, acts on bone remodeling through two distinct mechanisms.

Genetic influences on response to novel objects and dimensions of personality in Papio baboons.

Behavioral variation within and between populations and species of the genus Papio has been studied extensively, but little is known about the genetic causes of individual- or population-level differences. This study investigates the influence of genetic variation on personality (sometimes referred to as temperament) in baboons and identifies a candidate gene partially responsible for the variation in that phenotype. To accomplish these goals, we examined individual variation in response to both novel objects and an apparent novel social partner (using a mirror test) among pedigreed baboons (n = 578) from the Southwest National Primate Research Center.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in macaques following early life stress and inverse association with hippocampal volume: preliminary implications for serotonin-related function in mood and anxiety disorders.

Background: Early life stress (ELS) is cited as a risk for mood and anxiety disorders, potentially through altered serotonin neurotransmission. We examined the effects of ELS, utilizing the variable foraging demand (VFD) macaque model, on adolescent monoamine metabolites. We sought to replicate an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) observed in two previous VFD cohorts.

Genetic variation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met allele is associated with altered serotonin-1A receptor binding in human brain.

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) regulates brain synaptic plasticity. BDNF affects serotonin signaling, increases serotonin levels in brain tissue and prevents degeneration of serotonin neurons. These effects have hardly been studied in human brain.