Changes in DNA Methylation Persist Over Time in Males With Severe Alcohol Use Disorder—a Longitudinal Follow‐up Study
Abstract
Introduction
Treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder (AUD) aim for abstinence or harm reduction. While deranged biochemical parameters reverse with alcohol abstinence, whether molecular changes at the epigenetic level reverse is not clearly understood. This study investigated whether the reduction from high alcohol use reflects DNA methylation at the gene‐specific and global level.
Method
In subjects seeking treatment for severe AUD, the study assessed gene‐specific (aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH2]/methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR]) and global (long interspersed elements [LINE‐1]) methylation across three‐time points (baseline, after detoxification and at an early remission period of three months), in peripheral blood leukocytes.
Results
The researchers observed that both gene‐specific and global DNA methylation did not change over time, irrespective of the alcohol use status at three months (52% abstained from alcohol). Further, we also compared DNA methylation in AUD subjects with healthy controls. At baseline, there was a significantly higher gene‐specific DNA methylation (ALDH2: p < .001 and MTHFR: p = .001) and a significant lower global methylation (LINE‐1: p = .014) in AUD as compared to controls.
Conclusion
The results suggest that epigenetic changes at the DNA methylation level associated with severe AUD persist for at least three months of treatment.