DNA methylation status of SOX10 correlates with its downregulation and oligodendrocyte dysfunction in schizophrenia

J Neurosci. 2005 Jun 1;25(22):5376-81. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0766-05.2005.

Abstract

Downregulation of oligodendrocyte-related genes, referred to as oligodendrocyte dysfunction, in schizophrenia has been revealed by DNA microarray studies. Because oligodendrocyte-specific transcription factors regulate the differentiation of oligodendrocytes, genes encoding them are prime candidates for oligodendrocyte dysfunction in schizophrenia. We found that the cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) island of sex-determining region Y-box containing gene 10 (SOX10), an oligodendrocyte-specific transcription factor, tended to be highly methylated in brains of patients with schizophrenia, correlated with reduced expression of SOX10. We also found that DNA methylation status of SOX10 also was associated with other oligodendrocyte gene expressions in schizophrenia. This may be specific to SOX10, because the CpG island of OLIG2, which encodes another oligodendrocyte-specific transcription factor, was rarely methylated in brains, and the methylation status of myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein, which encodes structural protein in oligodendrocytes, did not account for their expressions or other oligodendrocyte gene expressions. Therefore, DNA methylation status of the SOX10 CpG island could be an epigenetic sign of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in schizophrenia.

MeSH terms

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • SOXE Transcription Factors
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism*
  • Schizophrenia / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • High Mobility Group Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • OLIG2 protein, human
  • Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2
  • SOX10 protein, human
  • SOXE Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors