CACNA1C Methylation: Association with Cortisol, Perceived Stress, rs1006737 and Childhood Trauma in Males

Abstract

Aim: We investigated morning cortisol, stress, rs1006737 and childhood trauma relationship with CACNA1C methylation. Materials & methods: Morning cortisol release, childhood trauma and perceived stress were collected and genotyping for rs1006737 conducted in 103 adult males. Genomic DNA extracted from saliva was bisulphite converted and using pyrosequencing methylation determined at 11 CpG sites within intron 3 of CACNA1C. Results: A significant negative correlation between waking cortisol and overall mean methylation was found and a positive correlation between CpG5 methylation and perceived stress. Conclusion:CACNA1C methylation levels may be related to cortisol release and stress perception. Future work should evaluate the influence of altered CACNA1C methylation on stress reactivity to investigate this as a potential mechanism for mental health vulnerability.

Keywords::

• CACNA1C
• childhood trauma
• cortisol
• DNA methylation
• rs1006737
• stress

Acknowledgments

We thank all the individuals that took part in this study. We also thank D Wenman who helped with recruitment and testing of some of the participants in the study.

Financial & competing interest disclosure

GP Reynolds has received honoraria for lectures and/or advisory panel membership from Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka and Sunovion and a research grant from Sunovion. The authors have no other relevant financial interest to disclose or financial involvement with any organization with a financial interest or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human investigations.

Additional information

Funding

GP Reynolds has received honoraria for lectures and/or advisory panel membership from Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka and Sunovion and a research grant from Sunovion. The authors have no other relevant financial interest to disclose or financial involvement with any organization with a financial interest or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.