Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex
Abstract Social cognition, which ranges from recognizing social cues to intricate inferential reasoning, is influenced by environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, methylation variations in stress-related genes like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the oxytocin receptor (...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86770-w |
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| author | Hye Yoon Park Suonaa Lee Se Jun Koo Zhenxu Li Eunchong Seo Eun Lee Suk Kyoon An |
| author_facet | Hye Yoon Park Suonaa Lee Se Jun Koo Zhenxu Li Eunchong Seo Eun Lee Suk Kyoon An |
| author_sort | Hye Yoon Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Social cognition, which ranges from recognizing social cues to intricate inferential reasoning, is influenced by environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, methylation variations in stress-related genes like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) are linked to distinct social cognitive functions and exhibit sex-specific differences. This study investigates how these methylation differences affect social cognition across sexes, focusing on both perceptual and inferential cognitive levels. Social cognitive abilities were assessed using the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (K-RMET) and Brune’s story-based Theory of Mind tasks (ToM-PST). DNA methylation levels in BDNF and OXTR were analyzed for correlations with performance on these cognitive tasks in a cohort of male and female participants. A moderation model was applied to determine if sex moderates the relationship between social cognition and DNA methylation. No significant overall correlation was found between social cognition and DNA methylation across participants. However, sex-specific correlations were identified, including a negative impact of BDNF methylation on K-RMET scores in males, and a similar effect of OXTR methylation on ToM-PST scores in females. The findings underscore the complex relationship between epigenetic modifications and social cognition, revealing sex-specific effects and highlighting the importance of considering sex in epigenetic studies of social cognition. This research contributes to understanding how epigenetic factors, influenced by sex, shape social cognitive processes and supports the need for sex-specific therapeutic approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f743d547cc54436588b91417305e7f23 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-f743d547cc54436588b91417305e7f232025-02-02T12:16:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-011511810.1038/s41598-025-86770-wEpigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sexHye Yoon Park0Suonaa Lee1Se Jun Koo2Zhenxu Li3Eunchong Seo4Eun Lee5Suk Kyoon An6Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance HospitalSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineYonseialways Psychiatry ClinicSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineAbstract Social cognition, which ranges from recognizing social cues to intricate inferential reasoning, is influenced by environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, methylation variations in stress-related genes like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) are linked to distinct social cognitive functions and exhibit sex-specific differences. This study investigates how these methylation differences affect social cognition across sexes, focusing on both perceptual and inferential cognitive levels. Social cognitive abilities were assessed using the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (K-RMET) and Brune’s story-based Theory of Mind tasks (ToM-PST). DNA methylation levels in BDNF and OXTR were analyzed for correlations with performance on these cognitive tasks in a cohort of male and female participants. A moderation model was applied to determine if sex moderates the relationship between social cognition and DNA methylation. No significant overall correlation was found between social cognition and DNA methylation across participants. However, sex-specific correlations were identified, including a negative impact of BDNF methylation on K-RMET scores in males, and a similar effect of OXTR methylation on ToM-PST scores in females. The findings underscore the complex relationship between epigenetic modifications and social cognition, revealing sex-specific effects and highlighting the importance of considering sex in epigenetic studies of social cognition. This research contributes to understanding how epigenetic factors, influenced by sex, shape social cognitive processes and supports the need for sex-specific therapeutic approaches.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86770-wSocial cognitionDNA methylationBDNFOXTRSex differences |
| spellingShingle | Hye Yoon Park Suonaa Lee Se Jun Koo Zhenxu Li Eunchong Seo Eun Lee Suk Kyoon An Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex Scientific Reports Social cognition DNA methylation BDNF OXTR Sex differences |
| title | Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| title_full | Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| title_short | Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| title_sort | epigenetic modulation of social cognition exploring the impact of methylation in brain derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex |
| topic | Social cognition DNA methylation BDNF OXTR Sex differences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86770-w |
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