DNA Methylation of NR3C1 and FKBP5 Is Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Growth, and Resilience

Objective: Understandings of the biological mechanisms underpinning posttrauma responses are limited. This pilot study aimed to expand research in this area by examining the relationship between DNA methylation of stress genes nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1) and FK06 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) with an array of posttrauma responses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and resilience. Method: First-year paramedicine students (N = 47) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptom severity, PTG, and resilience and provided a saliva sample for methylation analysis. Surrogate variable analyses identified covariates after which generalized regression models were performed to identify genomic sites significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity, PTG, or resilience. Results: Methylation of different FKBP5 and NR3C1 sites was significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity, PTG, and resilience. Methylation in FKBP5 site cg07485685 was a predictor of both PTSD symptom severity and resilience in opposite directions. Conclusions: This is the first study investigating methylation changes in PTG, and overall the results suggest that NR3C1 and FKBP5 methylation is associated with both positive and negative posttrauma responses.