A Study on the Association between Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Li and Han Ethnic Groups in Hainan Province and DNA Methylation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genes

Abstract
Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of PTSD in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene methylation of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD) in Hainan Province, the relationship between the influence of BDNF gene methylation and the influence of PTSD. Methods: A case-control study method was adopted, strictly in accordance with DSM-IV and PTSD diagnosis, and 150 Li PTSD patients matched with gender and age of 300 Han PTSD patients were selected as the research objects. The peripheral venous whole blood of the subjects was drawn, genomic DNA was extracted, modified with bisulfite, and directly sequenced to quantitatively detect the methylation status of the CpG island in the promoter region of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results: The results showed that the methylation levels of CPGl, CPG2, CPG3, CPG4, CPG5, CPG6, CPG7, CPG9, CPGl2, CPGl3, CPGl4, CPGl5, CPGl6, CPGl7, and CPGl8 in THE BDNF promoter were significantly different between the HAN PTSD group and the Li PTSD group (P Conclusion: It is suggested that CPG methylation in the promoter region of BDNF gene is closely related to patients with PTSD. There is a statistical difference in the level of CpG methylation in the promoter region of BDNF gene in PTSD between Li and Han ethnic groups in Hainan Province. CpG methylation in the promoter region of BDNF gene may be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of PTSD.