ArticleCurrent biology : CB2015
Molecular signatures of major depression.
Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph
Article in Current biology : CB, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07261111 (Effect of Subtle Energy Transmission and Tao Calligraphy Mindfulness Practice on Mitochondrial DNA), which is not on this map. Cited by 137 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
137citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
60.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
NCT07261111 naenrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation
Effect of Subtle Energy Transmission and Tao Calligraphy Mindfulness Practice on Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes
Who cites it
137 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 285 citations in OpenAlex.
- Exploring the association between depression and telomere length: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- Whole blood mitochondrial copy number in clinical populations with mood disorders: A meta-analysis: Blood mitochondrial copy number and mood disorders.Psychiatry research · 2024Pooled it
- Association between mitochondrial DNA levels and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Stress and circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA: A systematic review of human studies, physiological considerations, and technical recommendations.Mitochondrion · 2021Pooled it
- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Telomere Length a Look Into the Heterogeneity of Findings-A Narrative Review.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019Pooled it
- Association of telomere length with general cognitive trajectories: a meta-analysis of four prospective cohort studies.Neurobiology of aging · 2018Pooled it
- Early life adversity and telomere length: a meta-analysis.Molecular psychiatry · 2018Pooled it
- Short telomere length is associated with impaired cognitive performance in European ancestry cohorts.Translational psychiatry · 2017Pooled it
- Perceived stress and telomere length: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and methodologic considerations for advancing the field.Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2016Pooled it
- Psychological Stress and Mitochondria: A Systematic Review.Psychosomatic medicinePooled it
- Circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA, but not leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number, is elevated in major depressive disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2018Trial
- Leukocyte telomere length and depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders in primary health care patients.BMC psychiatry · 2017Trial
- Telomere length as a predictor of response to Pioglitazone in patients with unremitted depression: a preliminary study.Translational psychiatry · 2016Trial
- The effect of the integrated stress response reduction intervention on cellular aging in middle-aged nurses: a pilot study.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- Neuronal mitochondrial dynamics: roles in brain disorders and therapeutic potential.Acta pharmacologica Sinica · 2026Article
- Unraveling the telomere-mitochondrial axis in colorectal cancer: Results from a prospectively followed cohort.Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2026Article
- Concurrent depression and anxiety in women undergoing additional diagnostic procedures due to positive screening for cervical cancer.PloS one · 2026Observational
- Mitochondrial dysfunction, a new marker warning of neuropsychiatric disorder risk: evidence from genetics and epidemiology.Annals of general psychiatry · 2025Article
- Salivary mitochondrial DNA is associated with biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in cognitively normal older adults.Translational psychiatry · 2025Article
- Early life stress, psychiatric conditions, and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in medically healthy young adults.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2025Article
77 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
71 authors at 20 institutions in 9 countries.
Na CaiWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Simon ChangDepartment and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan, ROC.
Yihan LiWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Qibin LiBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Jingchu HuBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Jieqin LiangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Li SongBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Warren KretzschmarWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Xiangchao GanDepartment of Comparative Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linne-Weg 10, Cologne 50829, Germany.
Jerome NicodWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Margarita RiveraCentro de Investigacion Medica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM-University of Granada, Granada, Spain; MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK; National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Hong DengMental Health Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 28 South Dianxin Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China.
Bo DuHebei Mental Health Center, No. 572 Dongfeng Road, Baoding, Hebei 71000, China.
Keqing LiHebei Mental Health Center, No. 572 Dongfeng Road, Baoding, Hebei 71000, China.
Wenhu SangHebei Mental Health Center, No. 572 Dongfeng Road, Baoding, Hebei 71000, China.
Jingfang GaoZhejiang Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, No. 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China.
Shugui GaoNingbo Kang Ning Hospital, No. 1 Zhuangyu Road, Zhenhai District, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, China.
Baowei HaLiaocheng No. 4 Hospital, No. 47 North Huayuan Road, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China.
Hung-Yao HoDepartment of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan, ROC.
Chunmei HuNo. 3 Hospital of Heilongjiang Province, No. 135 Jiaotong Road, Beian, Heilongjiang 164000, China.
Jian HuHarbin Medical University, No. 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Haerbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China.
Zhenfei HuBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Guoping HuangSichuan Mental Health Center, No. 190, East Jiannan Road, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China.
Guoqing JiangChongqing Mental Health Center, No. 102 Jinzishan, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, Chongqing 404100, China.
Tao JiangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Wei JinBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Gongying LiMental Health Institute of Jining Medical College, Dai Zhuang, Bei Jiao, Jining, Shandong 272000, China.
Kan LiMental Hospital of Jiangxi Province, No. 43 Shangfang Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330000, China.
Yi LiWuhan Mental Health Center, No. 70, Youyi Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China.
Yingrui LiBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Youhui LiNo. 1 Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China.
Yu-Ting LinGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan, ROC.
Lanfen LiuShandong Mental Health Center, No. 49 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China.
Tiebang LiuShenzhen Key Lab for Psychological Healthcare, Kangning Hospital, No. 1080, Cuizhu Street, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China.
Ying LiuThe First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 North Nanjing Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
Yuan LiuBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Yao LuBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Luxian LvPsychiatric Hospital of Henan Province, No. 388 Middle Jianshe Road, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China.
Huaqing MengNo. 1 Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, Chongqing 400016, China.
Puyi QianBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Hong SangChangchun Mental Hospital, No. 4596 Beihuan Road, Changchun, Jilin 130000, China.
Jianhua ShenTianjin Anding Hospital, No. 13 Liulin Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, Tianjin 300000, China.
Jianguo ShiXian Mental Health Center, No. 15 Yanyin Road, New Qujiang District, Xian, Shaanxi 710000, China.
Jing SunBrain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 264 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China.
Ming TaoSecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 318 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China.
Gang WangBeijing Anding Hospital of Capital University of Medical Sciences, No. 5 Ankang Hutong, Deshengmen wai, Xicheng District, Beijing, Beijing 100000, China.
Guangbiao WangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Jian WangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Linmao WangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Xueyi WangFirst Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 50000, China.
Xumei WangShengJing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
Huanming YangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Lijun YangJilin Brain Hospital, No. 98 West Zhongyang Road, Siping, Jilin 136000, China.
Ye YinBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Jinbei ZhangNo. 3 Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China.
Kerang ZhangNo. 1 Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No. 85 South Jiefang Road, Taiyuan, Shanxi 30000, China.
Ning SunNo. 1 Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No. 85 South Jiefang Road, Taiyuan, Shanxi 30000, China.
Wei ZhangDaqing No. 3 Hospital of Heilongjiang Province, No. 54 Xitai Road, Ranghulu District, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163000, China.
Xiuqing ZhangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Zhen ZhangNo. 4 Hospital of Jiangsu University, No. 246 Nanmen Street, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, China.
Hui ZhongAnhui Mental Health Center, No. 316 Huangshan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230000, China.
Gerome BreenMRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK; National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Jun WangBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China; Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark; Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau 999078, China; Princess Al Jawhara Center of Excellence in the Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Jonathan MarchiniDepartment of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3TG, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Yiping ChenCTSU, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7LF, UK.
Qi XuNational Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 10005, China.
Xun XuBGI-Shenzhen, Floor 9 Complex Building, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China.
Richard MottWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK.
Guo-Jen HuangDepartment and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan, ROC.
Kenneth KendlerDept Psychiatry MCV, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Jonathan FlintWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK; East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China. Electronic address: jf@well.ox.ac.uk.
BGI Group (China) · CNUniversity of Oxford · GBCentre for Human Genetics · GBChang Gung University · TWHebei Mental Health Center · CNFirst Hospital of China Medical University · CNHarbin Medical University · CNShanxi Medical University · CNSichuan Mianyang 404 Hospital · CNAnhui Mental Health Center · CNBeijing Anding Hospital · CNBrain Hospital of Jilin · CNCentre for Mental Health · GBChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CNChongqing City Mental Health Center · CNChongqing Medical University · CNHebei Medical University · CNHeilongjiang Provincial Hospital · CNHenan Psychiatric Hospital · CNJiangsu University · CN
Funding
The Molecular Genetics of Recurrent Major Depression in Chinese WomenR01MH100549 · NIMH · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI KENDLER, KENNETH SEEDMAN · 2013 to 2015
$2.0MNIMH NIH HHS R01 MH100549Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust WT083573/Z/07/ZWellcome Trust WT089269/Z/09/ZWellcome Trust WT090532/Z/09/ZWellcome Trust WT097307
Abstract
Adversity, particularly in early life, can cause illness. Clues to the responsible mechanisms may lie with the discovery of molecular signatures of stress, some of which include alterations to an individual's somatic genome. Here, using genome sequences from 11,670 women, we observed a highly significant association between a stress-related disease, major depression, and the amount of mtDNA (p = 9.00 × 10(-42), odds ratio 1.33 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29-1.37]) and telomere length (p = 2.84 × 10(-14), odds ratio 0.85 [95% CI = 0.81-0.89]). While both telomere length and mtDNA amount were associated with adverse life events, conditional regression analyses showed the molecular changes were contingent on the depressed state. We tested this hypothesis with experiments in mice, demonstrating that stress causes both molecular changes, which are partly reversible and can be elicited by the administration of corticosterone. Together, these results demonstrate that changes in the amount of mtDNA and telomere length are consequences of stress and entering a depressed state. These findings identify increased amounts of mtDNA as a molecular marker of MD and have important implications for understanding how stress causes the disease.
Indexed as
Telomere ShorteningAnimalsBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesChildChild Abuse, SexualDNA, MitochondrialFemaleGlucocorticoidsHumansLife Change EventsMajor Depressive DisorderMaleMice, Inbred C57BLStress, PsychologicalBiomarkersDNA, MitochondrialGlucocorticoids
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NCT07261111ClinicalTrials.gov
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.