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Epigenetic down regulation of nerve growth factor during alcohol withdrawal
Author(s) -
Heberlein Annemarie,
Muschler Marc,
Frieling Helge,
Behr Michael,
Eberlein Christian,
Wilhelm Julia,
Gröschl Michael,
Kornhuber Johannes,
Bleich Stefan,
Hillemacher Thomas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00307.x
Subject(s) - epigenetics , nerve growth factor , alcohol , neuroscience , medicine , psychology , biology , genetics , receptor , gene , biochemistry
We investigated the Cytosin‐phosphatidyl‐Guanin (CpG) island promoter methylation (mean and methylation of individual CpG‐sites) of the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene in the blood of alcohol‐dependent patients (57 male patients) during withdrawal (days 1, 7 and 14). Methylation and NGF serum levels did not change significantly from days 1–7. From days 7–14, mean methylation increased ( F = 30.55, P < 0.001), whereas the NGF serum levels decreased significantly (days 7–14: F = 17.95, P < 0.001). The NGF serum levels were significantly associated with the mean methylation of the investigated CpG‐sites ( F = 1.55, P < 0.001). These results imply an epigenetic regulation of the NGF gene during alcohol withdrawal.