A study by Northwestern Medicine links long-lasting and recent marijuana usage to changes in the human epigenome. While the study does not establish causal relationships, it sets the stage for further research study into cannabiss epigenetic effect and its possible health results.
” Despite its growing popularity, as well as current legalization by a number of states, the impact of cannabis on epigenetic factors has actually not been well studied,” said Hou, who is likewise Director of the Center for Global Oncology in the Robert J. Havey, MD, Institute for Global Health.” In our research study, we observed associations between cumulative marijuana use and several epigenetic markers throughout time,” Hou said. Studies analyzing the effect of marijuana on age-related health results may offer further insight into the long-term result of marijuana on health.”
A research study by Northwestern Medicine links long-lasting and current cannabis use to modifications in the human epigenome. The research study determined considerable epigenetic modifications through observing DNA methylation markers. While the research study does not develop causal relationships, it sets the stage for more research study into cannabiss epigenetic effect and its potential health results.
Long-term and current cannabis use is connected to modifications in the human epigenome, a brand-new Northwestern Medicine research study released in the journal Molecular Psychiatry has actually discovered.
Cannabis ranks as the most widely used drug in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that around 48.2 million people, which constitutes around 18% of all Americans, had used marijuana a minimum of once in 2019. This is the most current year for which data is offered.
In spite of its prevalent usage and legalization in several states, the health consequences of marijuana usage are not well understood, according to Lifang Hou, MD, PhD, chief of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention in the Department of Preventive Medicine and senior author of the study.
Drew Nannini, DO, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Hou lab, was first author of the research study published in Molecular Psychiatry. Credit: Northwestern Medicine
” Despite its growing appeal, in addition to recent legalization by numerous states, the effect of cannabis on epigenetic factors has not been well studied,” said Hou, who is also Director of the Center for Global Oncology in the Robert J. Havey, MD, Institute for Global Health. “We formerly identified associations in between cannabis use and the aging procedure as captured through DNA methylation. We wished to even more check out whether particular epigenetic elements were connected with cannabis and whether these elements belong to health outcomes.”
In the research study, private investigators analyzed entire blood samples taken five years apart from people who formerly participated in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) research study. The current study consisted of information from more than 900 grownups.
The scientists surveyed each individual for recent marijuana use and estimated cumulative use and after that carried out DNA methylation profiling on their blood samples to expose epigenetic changes related to marijuana use.
By studying changes in DNA methylation, the biological process by which methyl groups are added to DNA molecules, thus modifying gene expression, researchers were able to link marijuana use to modifications in the human epigenome.
Overall, private investigators observed 22 and 31 DNA methylation markers related to cumulative and current cannabis usage, respectively, from the first samples and 132 and 16 methylation markers in the second batch of samples, according to the study.
Many of the epigenetic changes were discovered in pathways previously linked to cellular expansion, hormonal agent signaling, infections, and psychological health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and compound use conditions, Hou said.
Lifang Hou, MD, PhD, chief of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention in the Department of Preventive Medicine, was senior author of the study published in Molecular Psychiatry. Credit: Northwestern Medicine
” In our research study, we observed associations between cumulative cannabis use and numerous epigenetic markers across time,” Hou said. “Interestingly, we consistently recognized one marker that has actually formerly been connected with tobacco usage, suggesting a potential shared epigenetic guideline between tobacco and cannabis use. The observed marijuana markers were likewise connected with cell proliferation, infection, and psychiatric disorders, however, additional studies are needed to reproduce and verify these findings.”
While the study does not establish a causal relationship in between marijuana use and epigenetic modifications, nor between those epigenetic modifications and observed health outcomes, the findings may be beneficial in future research study into the epigenetic results of marijuana usage, said Drew Nannini, DO, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Hou laboratory and first author of the study.
” This research study has actually provided novel insights into the association in between marijuana use and epigenetic factors,” Nannini said. “Additional studies are required to determine whether these associations are consistently observed in different populations. Moreover, studies examining the impact of marijuana on age-related health results might offer additional insight into the long-term result of cannabis on health.”
Referral: “Genome-wide DNA methylation association study of cumulative and recent cannabis use in middle aged grownups” by Drew R. Nannini, Yinan Zheng, Brian T. Joyce, Kyeezu Kim, Tao Gao, Jun Wang, David R. Jacobs, Pamela J. Schreiner, Kristine Yaffe, Philip Greenland, Donald M. Lloyd-Jones and Lifang Hou, 31 May 2023, Molecular Psychiatry.DOI: 10.1038/ s41380-023-02106-y.
The research study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in partnership with Kaiser Foundation Research Institute and Northwestern University. Additional funding was provided by American Heart Association grants 14SFRN20790000 and 17SFRN33700278, and National Institute on Aging grants R21AG063370, R21AG068955, R01AG081244 and R01AG069120.