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. 2024 Jan 8;46(3 Suppl 1):e20230139.
doi: 10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2023-0139. eCollection 2024.

Global DNA methylation patterns in Alcohol Use Disorder

Jaqueline B Schuch  1   2 , Cibele E Bandeira  3   4 , Jorge L S Junior  5 , Diana Müller  5   3 , Mariele F Charão  6 , Bruna S da Silva  3   4 , Eugenio H Grevet  1   3 , Felix H P Kessler  1   2 , Lisia von Diemen  1   2 , Diego L Rovaris  3   4 , Claiton H D Bau  1   5   3
Affiliations

Global DNA methylation patterns in Alcohol Use Disorder

Jaqueline B Schuch et al. Genet Mol Biol. .

Abstract

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide that produces a wide range of pathophysiological consequences, with a critical impact on health and social issues. Alcohol influences gene expression through epigenetic changes mainly through DNA methylation. In this sense, levels of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), namely Global DNA methylation (GMe), which can be influenced by environmental and hormonal effects, represent a putative biological mechanism underlying alcohol effects. Our aim was to investigate the influence of AUD diagnosis and alcohol patterns (i.e., years of addiction, use in the last 30 days, and alcohol severity) on GMe levels. The sample consisted of 256 men diagnosed with AUD and 361 men without AUD. DNA samples from peripheral blood were used to assess GMe levels, measured through the levels of 5-mC using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results from multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the presence of AUD was associated with lower GMe levels (beta=-0.155, p=0.011). Other alcohol-related outcomes were not associated with DNA methylation. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the impact of chronic and heavy alcohol use in GMe could be a potential mechanism mediating the multiple organ damages related to AUD.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Dr. Grevet was on the speaker’s bureau for Novartis and Shire for 3 years. All other authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1 -
Figure 1 -. GMe levels in non-AUD and AUD individuals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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