Differential transcriptome expression in human nucleus accumbens as a function of loneliness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genomics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Loneliness is linked to poor mental and physical health.
• Previous studies noted inflammation and altered brain reward region activity in lonely individuals.
• Human brain gene expression in loneliness remained unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate genome-wide RNA expression in the human nucleus accumbens related to loneliness.
• To identify specific genes and regulatory networks affected by loneliness.
• To explore connections between loneliness, gene expression, and diseases like Alzheimer's disease.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide RNA expression analysis of post-mortem nucleus accumbens tissue (N=26).
• Statistical analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with loneliness measures.
• Bioinformatic analysis to identify upstream RNA regulators and associated disease pathways.

Main Results:

• 1599 genes and 1710 transcripts were differentially expressed in relation to loneliness.
• Associated genes are linked to behavioral, neurological, and psychological disorders, cancer, and injury.
• Several DEGs were associated with Alzheimer's disease genes.

Conclusions:

• Loneliness is associated with significant changes in gene expression within the human nucleus accumbens.
• These findings highlight novel molecular targets for understanding how loneliness affects health and disease.
• Gene networks in the nucleus accumbens may play a role in conditions exacerbated by loneliness.