MANHASSET, NY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 22, 2024–
Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression have a strong genetic signature. Through advanced transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), researchers can identify unique gene expression profiles to identify new drug targets to treat these disorders. Today, the results from a study published by researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Kings College London Nature Communications reveal novel patterns of gene expression associated with common mental health disorders, providing a roadmap for future therapeutic research.
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Douglas F. Nixon, MD, PhD, researcher at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and co-senior author of the new paper.
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are non-coding sequences that make up about eight percent of the human genome. They originate from ancient retrovirus infections that infected our ancestors hundreds of thousands to millions of years ago and are thought to regulate nearby genes and have other biological functions. HERVs have been linked to psychiatric conditions, but their exact role has been unclear.
Our study suggests that some HERVs play a role in predisposition to psychiatric disorders, said Douglas F. Nixon, MD, PhD, researcher at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and co-senior author of the paper. This and future studies, including further translational research and clinical studies, may lead to potential new ways to treat psychiatric disorders.
The research, funded in part by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), focused on the neurological expression of HERV and found unique patterns associated with genetic risk for major psychiatric disorders. The team also found co-expression networks linking well-placed genes to HERVs, helping to better understand their functions. It is still unclear how HERVs are involved in psychiatric disorders. Previous research suggests that changes in HERV expression in psychiatric cases may be due to immune responses against current or past infections, which may cause inflammation. However, this new study found that some HERV expression signatures are genetically regulated, meaning they may directly contribute to the cause of these disorders rather than being a response to infections or environmental factors.
The groundbreaking research of Dr. Nixons opens a new vista in finding new treatments for disease, said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute and the Karches Family Endowed Chair in Medical Research. Investigating the so-called dark genome, Dr. Nixon is shedding new light on the mystery and providing a source of hope for patients with psychiatric disorders who lack sufficient effective therapies.
The research reported in this press release was supported by the NIH under award number R21HG011513. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the Feinstein Institute
Feinstein Institute for Medical Researchis home to the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50 research laboratories, 3,000 clinical research studies, and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institute raises the bar for medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, and molecular medicine. We make advances in genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity and are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine, a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more information on how we generate knowledge to cure disease, visithttp://feinstein.northwell.eduand follow usLinkedIn.
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CONTACT: Matthew Libassi
631-793-5325
mlibassi@northwell.edu
KEY WORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MENTAL HEALTH GENETIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
SOURCE: Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Copyright Business Wire 2024.
PUB: 05/22/2024 12:32 PM/DISC: 05/22/2024 12:31 PM
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