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Reduced DNA methylation of FKBP5 in Cushing’s syndrome

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Abstract

FKBP5 encodes a co-chaperone of HSP90 protein that regulates intracellular glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. When it is bound to the glucocorticoid receptor complex, cortisol binds with lower affinity to glucocorticoid receptor. Cushing’s syndrome is associated with memory deficits, smaller hippocampal volumes, and wide range of cognitive impairments. We aimed at evaluating blood DNA methylation of FKBP5 and its relationship with memory and hippocampal volumes in Cushing’s syndrome patients. Polymorphism rs1360780 in FKBP5 has also been assessed to determine whether genetic variations can also govern CpG methylation. Thirty-two Cushing’s syndrome patients and 32 matched controls underwent memory tests, 3-Tesla MRI of the brain, and DNA extraction from total leukocytes. DNA samples were bisulfite treated, PCR amplified, and pyrosequenced to assess a total of 41CpG-dinucleotides in the introns 1, 2, 5, and 7 of FKBP5. Significantly lower intronic FKBP5 DNA methylation in CS patients compared to controls was observed in ten CpG-dinucleotides. DNA methylation at these CpGs correlated with left and right HV (Intron-2-Region-2-CpG-3: LHV, r = 0.73, p = 0.02; RHV, r = 0.58, p = 0.03). Cured and active CS patients showed both lower methylation of intron 2 (92.37, 91.8, and 93.34 %, respectively, p = 0.03 for both) and of intron 7 (77.08, 73.74, and 79.71 %, respectively, p = 0.02 and p < 0.01) than controls. Twenty-two subjects had the CC genotype, 34 had the TC genotype, and eight had the TT genotype. Lower average DNA methylation in intron 7 was observed in the TT subjects compared to CC (72.5vs. 79.5 %, p = 0.02) and to TC (72.5 vs. 79.0 %, p = 0.03). Our data demonstrate, for the first time, a reduction of intronic DNA methylation of FKBP5 in CS patients.

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Abbreviations

FKBP5:

human protein

FKBP5 :

human gene

FKBP5:

mouse protein

Fkbp5 :

mouse gene

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN, FIS080302), NIH U01AA020890, K05AA020342 (GSW) and R21MH101392 (RSL), and the European Commission (ERCUSYN PHP800200). We thank Dr. Ignasi Gich, from the Department of Epidemiology of the Hospital Sant Pau, for the critical review of the statistical analysis. The collaboration of the patients and controls who participated in this study is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain

    Eugenia Resmini, Alicia Santos, Anna Aulinas & Susan M. Webb

  2. INNDACYT, Avd. Europa, 20, Bajos D, L’ Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    Yolanda Vives-Gilabert

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Olivia Cox, Gary Wand & Richard S. Lee

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  1. Eugenia Resmini
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Correspondence to Eugenia Resmini.

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Resmini, E., Santos, A., Aulinas, A. et al. Reduced DNA methylation of FKBP5 in Cushing’s syndrome. Endocrine 54, 768–777 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-016-1083-6

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