Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse
Patrick O McGowan; Aya Sasaki; Ana C D'Alessio; Sergiy Dymov; Benoit Labonté; Moshe Szyf; Gustavo Turecki; Michael J Meaney · Nature Neuroscience · 2009 · Human postmortem observational study and laboratory assays
Original publication · Original publication · Original publication · Original publication
Recorded summary
Hippocampal tissue from suicide victims with a history of childhood abuse showed altered glucocorticoid-receptor promoter methylation and lower receptor transcript levels. Laboratory promoter assays supported a potential regulatory link between methylation and transcription.
Recorded limitations
Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
Evidence and provenance
Chapter Trust Factor uses a minimum of three distinct qualifying studies. Publication records retain their own evidence and assessment.
Study design and assessment
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- Human postmortem observational study and laboratory assays
- assessment
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- peer Reviewed
- true
- basis
- Human postmortem observational study and laboratory assays. No masked human randomized trial classification is assigned.
- sources
https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
- reviewed At
- 2026-10-23
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/ · https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/
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- assessed At
- 2026-10-27
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- Epigenetics
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- Human postmortem hippocampal tissue
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- NR3C1 promoter methylation and messenger RNA
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NR3C1
- relationship Note
- Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
- source URLs
https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
- checked At
- 2026-10-23
Topics and recorded topic scores
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- Stress, inflammation and synaptic plasticity
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Complete approved library record
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- Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse
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- Nature Neuroscience
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- Patrick O McGowan; Aya Sasaki; Ana C D'Alessio; Sergiy Dymov; Benoit Labonté; Moshe Szyf; Gustavo Turecki; Michael J Meaney
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https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
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general
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- summary
- Hippocampal tissue from suicide victims with a history of childhood abuse showed altered glucocorticoid-receptor promoter methylation and lower receptor transcript levels. Laboratory promoter assays supported a potential regulatory link between methylation and transcription.
- limitation
- Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
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- sources
https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/ · https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/
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- Patrick O McGowan; Aya Sasaki; Ana C D'Alessio; Sergiy Dymov; Benoit Labonté; Moshe Szyf; Gustavo Turecki; Michael J Meaney
- design
- Human postmortem observational study and laboratory assays
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https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
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https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
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NR3C1
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- Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
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https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
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- summary
- Hippocampal tissue from suicide victims with a history of childhood abuse showed altered glucocorticoid-receptor promoter methylation and lower receptor transcript levels. Laboratory promoter assays supported a potential regulatory link between methylation and transcription.
- limitation
- Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
- paper Trust Assessment
- score
- 1
- scope
- Paper
- status
- assessed
- randomized Controlled Trial
- false
- blinding
- not-confirmed
- peer Reviewed
- true
- basis
- Human postmortem observational study and laboratory assays. No masked human randomized trial classification is assigned.
- sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/ · https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/
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- NR3C1 promoter methylation and messenger RNA
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NR3C1
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- Postmortem associations cannot establish that childhood adversity caused the molecular differences or that the pattern applies to every exposed person.
- source URLs
https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270 · https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2270 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2944040/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234457/
- checked At
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© 2009 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved. 2009 This file is available for text mining. It may also be used consistent with the principles of fair use under the copyright law.
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