AUTHOR=Norrholm Seth D., Jovanovic Tanja , Smith Alicia , Binder Elisabeth B., Klengel Torsten , Conneely Karen , Mercer Kristina B., Davis Jennifer S., Kerley Kimberly , Winkler Jennifer A., Gillespie Charles F., Bradley Bekh , Ressler Kerry J.

TITLE=Differential Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of catechol-O-methyltransferase is Associated with Impaired Fear Inhibition in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00030

DOI=10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00030

ISSN=1662-5153

ABSTRACT=<p>The catechol-<italic>O</italic>-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme is critical for the catabolic regulation of synaptic dopamine, resulting in altered cortical functioning. The <italic>COMT</italic> Val<sup>158</sup>Met polymorphism has been implicated in human mental illness, with Met/Met homozygotes associated with increased susceptibility to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our primary objective was to examine the intermediate phenotype of fear inhibition in PTSD stratified by <italic>COMT</italic> genotype (Met/Met, Val/Met, and Val/Val) and differential gene regulation via methylation status at CpG sites in the <italic>COMT</italic> promoter region. More specifically, we examined the potential interaction of <italic>COMT</italic> genotype and PTSD diagnosis on fear-potentiated startle during fear conditioning and extinction and <italic>COMT</italic> DNA methylation levels (as determined using genomic DNA isolated from whole blood). Participants were recruited from medical and gynecological clinics of an urban hospital in Atlanta, GA, USA. We found that individuals with the Met/Met genotype demonstrated higher fear-potentiated startle to the CS− (safety signal) and during extinction of the CS+ (danger signal) compared to Val/Met and Val/Val genotypes. The PTSD+ Met/Met genotype group had the greatest impairment in fear inhibition to the CS− (<italic>p</italic> = 0.006), compared to Val carriers. In addition, the Met/Met genotype was associated with DNA methylation at four CpG sites, two of which were associated with impaired fear inhibition to the safety signal. These results suggest that multiple differential mechanisms for regulating COMT function – at the level of protein structure via the Val<sup>158</sup>Met genotype and at the level of gene regulation via differential methylation – are associated with impaired fear inhibition in PTSD.</p>