Overall, investigators observed 22 and 31 DNA methylation markers associated with recent and cumulative marijuana use, respectively, from the first samples and 132 and 16 methylation markers in the second batch of samples, according to the study.
Many of the epigenetic changes were found in pathways previously linked to cellular proliferation, hormone signaling, infections and mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and substance use disorders, Hou said.
"In our study, we observed associations between cumulative marijuana use and multiple epigenetic markers across time," Hou said. "Interestingly, we consistently identified one marker that has previously been associated with tobacco use, suggesting a potential shared epigenetic regulation between tobacco and marijuana use. The observed marijuana markers were also associated with cell proliferation, infection and psychiatric disorders, however, additional studies are needed to replicate and verify these findings." (For full story (medicalxpress.com)
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