A Systematic Review of LINE-1 Methylation Profile in Psychiatric Disorders

• Published in: Complex psychiatry Vol. 9; no. 1-4; pp. 119 - 129
• Main Authors: Alves, Vitória Rodrigues Guimarães, Micali, Danilo, Ota, Vanessa Kiyomi, Bugiga, Amanda Victória Gomes, Muniz Carvalho, Carolina, Belangero, Sintia Iole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 20.04.2023
• Subjects: Systematic Review; Mood disorders; Psychotic disorders; PRISMA; Long interspersed nuclear elements; Post-traumatic stress disorder
• ISSN: 2673-3005; 2673-298X
• DOI: 10.1159/000530641

Introduction: Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) are endogenous retrotransposable elements. A few studies have linked the methylation pattern of LINE-1 to different mental disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], autism spectrum disorder [ASD], panic disorder [PD]). We sought to unify the existing knowledge in the field and provide a better understanding of the association between mental disorders and LINE-1 methylation. Methods: A systematic review was executed with 12 eligible articles according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: For psychotic disorders, PTSD, ASD, and PD, lower LINE-1 methylation levels were detected, whereas for mood disorders, the findings are controversial. The studies were conducted with subjects aged 18–80 years. Peripheral blood samples were utilized in 7/12 articles. Conclusion: Although most studies have shown that LINE-1 hypomethylation was associated with mental disorders, there were still some divergences (i.e., hypermethylation associated with mental disorders). These studies suggest that LINE-1 methylation may be an important factor related to the development of mental disorders and highlight the need to better comprehend the biological mechanisms underlying the role of LINE-1 in mental disorders pathophysiology.