Clinical potential of epigenetic and microRNA biomarkers in PTSD

Abstract

Molecular studies identifying alterations associated with PTSD have predominantly focused on candidate genes or conducted genome-wide analyses, often encountering issues with replicability. This review aims to identify robust bi-directional epigenetic and microRNA (miRNA) regulators focusing on their functional impacts on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their utility in clinical diagnosis, whilst examining knowledge gaps in the existing research. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Global Health (CABI), and PubMed, augmented by grey literature, yielding 3465 potential articles. Ultimately, 92 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed to pinpoint significant epigenetic changes with clinically relevant potential in PTSD. The selected studies explored histone modifications, CpG sites, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and miRNA biomarkers. Specifically, nine studies examined epigenetic markers, detailing the influence of methylation on chromatin accessibility at histone positions H3K4, H3K9, and H3K36 within a PTSD context. Seventy-three studies investigated DNA methylation, identifying 20 hypermethylated and five hypomethylated CpG islands consistently observed in PTSD participants. Nineteen studies linked 88 SNPs to PTSD, with only one SNP replicated within these studies. Furthermore, sixteen studies focused on miRNAs, with findings indicating 194 downregulated and 24 upregulated miRNAs were associated with PTSD. Although there are epigenetic mechanisms that are significantly affected by PTSD, a granular deconstruction of these mechanisms elucidates the need to incorporate more nuanced approaches to identifying the factors that contribute to PTSD. Technological advances in diagnostic tools are driving the need to integrate detailed participant characteristics, trauma type, genetic susceptibilities, and best practices for robust reporting. This comprehensive approach will be crucial for enhancing the translational potential of PTSD research for clinical application.

Keywords: Epigenetics; PTSD; clinical biomarkers; microRNA.