Webinar Q&A follow-up: How chronic stress experienced during early development epigenetically programs adult disease risk
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
1y ago
Neuro Central recently hosted a free live webinar, ‘How chronic stress experienced during early development epigenetically programs adult disease risk’, featuring speaker James Coffman, Associate Professor at MDI Biological Laboratory (ME, USA). Following a fascinating presentation of his work, James took questions from our live audience – here, James responds to those questions that we didn’t have time for during the live webinar. Do let us know your thoughts on this topic or any of the questions posed by commenting below this feature! Did you miss the webinar? You can watch it here. Is an ..read more
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DNA methylation sites in sperm could act as biomarkers for autism
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
3y ago
Researchers from Valencia Clinical Research Center (Spain) and Washington State University (WA, USA) have collaborated to identify a set of DNA methylation regions in sperm that could act as biomarkers for autism susceptibility in children. While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered to be predominantly associated with paternal transmission, the mechanisms behind this are not yet understood. The findings of this proof-of-concept study, published in Clinical Epigenetics, could be a step towards explaining these mechanisms. The study recruited 26 men, of which 13 had fathered sons diagnos ..read more
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Switching off this ‘master regulator’ could protect the brain from Parkinson’s-related damage
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
3y ago
In what is reported to be the first study of its kind, researchers have identified that switching off a particular ‘master regulator’ could protect the brain from Parkinson’s-related damage such as neurodegeneration and inflammatory damage. The results have been published in Nature Neuroscience and provide a novel avenue for developing therapies that preserve vulnerable brain cells in Parkinson’s disease. “One of the biggest challenges in treating Parkinson’s, other than the lack of therapies that impede disease progression, is that the disease has already laid waste to significant portions of ..read more
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FENS 2018: Epigenetic target identified in early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
An international team of researchers, primarily based in the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Lausanne, Switzerland), have identified an epigenetic modification that could be manipulated early on in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through the use of a dietary drug, potentially leading to a more effective treatment of the disease. There are currently almost 50 million people worldwide living with dementia, including AD, and this figure is expected to rise to over 131.5 million by 2020. AD is often diagnosed after its onset, meaning that treatments only target the symptoms o ..read more
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FENS 2018: Epigenetics – trans-generational effects of traumatic experiences
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
Research from the University ETH Zürich (Zürich, Switzerland), has demonstrated that traumatic experiences can lead to epigenetic modifications. These modifications can be passed down through the next few generations, potentially leading to behavioral changes and psychological disorders in the offspring of an individual who has experienced a traumatic event. However, the results of the study also suggest that a positive and stimulating environment can correct these changes. Traumatic or stressful experiences can have long-lasting effects on an individual and their family. Understanding how the ..read more
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SfN17: News highlights and speaker interviews from Neuroscience 2017
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
Last week we attended Neuroscience 2017 (Washington DC, USA, 11–15 November), the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. As always, it was a fantastic meeting, with over 30,000 attendees from all areas of neuroscience. Hot topics included the microbiome, epigenetics and opioid addiction, with other key sessions covering the latest updates in neurodegeneration, neurorobotics and neuroscience in society. Below we’ve collated the biggest news to come out of the meeting, as well as our interviews with the researchers behind the science – plus, stay tuned for further interviews over the co ..read more
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SfN17: New insights into the impacts of stress – epigenetics and neurogenesis
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
New research presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting, Neuroscience 2017, (11–15 November 2017, Washington DC, USA) has uncovered mechanisms by which stress impacts the brain, highlighting potential targets for reducing these effects. In a study assessing sperm microRNA, researchers have discovered that the stress a father experiences can alter how his sperm matures, impacting the subsequent offspring’s brain development. The team developed an in vitro model where they administered stress hormones to cultured cells from the caput epididymis, observing that the cells responded ..read more
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DNA methylation and transcription onset in the brain
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
Aim: The goal of this study was to test the state of methylation of transcription start positions in DNA that are actively involved in transcription. Materials & methods: We used sequential ChIP-bisulfite-sequencing with an antibody to RNpolII-PS5 to map the state of methylation of actively transcribing transcription start sites (TSS). Results: TSS that RNApolII-PS5 physically bind to, are ubiquitously unmethylated. TSS that appear to be both heavily methylated and transcriptionally active are truly a mixture of unmethylated TSS with bound RNApolII-PS5 in some nuclei and unbound methylated ..read more
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Understanding epigenetics of schizophrenia in the backdrop of its antipsychotic drug therapy
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
The diatheses of gene and environment interaction in schizophrenia (SCZ) are becoming increasingly evident. Genetic and epigenetic backgrounds are being considered in stratifying and addressing phenotypic variation and drug response in SCZ. But how much of these epigenetic alterations are the primary contributing factor, toward disease pathogenesis and drug response, needs further clarity. Evidence indicates that antipsychotic drugs can also alter the epigenetic homeostasis thereby inducing pharmacoepigenomic effects. We re-examine the context of epigenetics in disease pathogenesis and antipsy ..read more
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New gene-editing technology could relieve chronic pain
Neuro Central - Epigenetics
by Sharon Salt
4y ago
A research project led by the University of Utah (UT, USA) has reported a new method for reducing chronic pain by editing the epigenome. By modulating genes that reduce tissue- and cell-damaging inflammation, this therapy could hold promise for sufferers of chronic back and joint pain. The research was published in Tissue Engineering, in collaboration with Duke University (NC, USA) and Washington University in St. Louis (MO, USA). Robby Bowles (University of Utah), senior author of the study, commented on the importance of the findings: “This has applications for many inflammatory-driven disea ..read more
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