EpigenomicsMar 11, 2025

Epigenetic changes linked to trauma and coping in people living with HIV

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 22, 2026

Abstract

Higher at one site of the serotonin transporter gene () is associated with lower levels of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in people living with HIV.

Elevated DNA methylation at SLC6A4 correlates with reduced anxiety (B = -0.62), depression (B = -0.06), and PTSD symptoms (B = -0.03) at baseline.
DNA methylation at is negatively associated with anxiety (B = -0.30) and depression symptoms (B = -0.20).
Coping strategies, including self-blame and substance use, show associations with DNA methylation in both genes over time.
The study involved a random sample of 70 individuals living with HIV, with follow-up data from 51 participants.

Simplified

AIM: People living with HIV (PLWH) have an increased risk for lifetime trauma and mental health difficulties. However, no studies have evaluated stress-related genes in relation to early-life adversity, lifetime trauma, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in PLWH.

METHODS: Using bisulfite pyrosequencing, we evaluated (DNAm) in intron 7 of , a glucocorticoid feedback regulator, and in the promoter of , the serotonin transporter gene, in whole blood of a random sample of 70 PLWH recruited from an HIV program, and 51 individuals 2 years later ( = 48 at both time points). Exploratory regression analyses were conducted with DNAm in relation to trauma exposure, mental health symptoms, and coping strategies. n

RESULTS: Higher DNAm at one site of SLC6A4 was associated with lower levels of anxiety (B = -0.62 (SE = 0.23), = 0.0109), depression (B = -0.06 (SE = 0.03), = 0.0435), and PTSD symptoms at baseline (B = -0.03 (SE = 0.01), = 0.0374). DNAm at FKBP5 was negatively associated with measures of anxiety (B = -0.30 (SE = 0.07), = 0.0001) and depression symptoms (B = -0.2 (SE = 0.10), = 0.0103). Various coping strategies were also associated with sites in both genes across time points, e.g. self-blame and substance use. p p p p p

CONCLUSION: Our findings generate intriguing hypotheses linking mental health symptoms and DNA methylation, to be replicated with larger samples.

Key numbers

0.62

Decrease in Anxiety Symptoms

Regression coefficient for anxiety at baseline.

0.35

Decrease in Depression Symptoms

Regression coefficient for depression at baseline.

0.03

Decrease in PTSD Symptoms

Regression coefficient for PTSD symptoms at baseline.

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Epigenetic changes linked to trauma and coping in people living with HIV

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