Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Methylation Level and Its Significance in Patients With Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder and Hypertension.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) often coexists with hypertension (HYT). DNA methylation has elicited vital functionality in their development. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a vital enzyme in blood pressure. This study investigated the effect of ACE methylation on depression and HYT severity in patients with comorbid MDD and HYT (MDD + HYT).

Methods: A total of 119 patients (41 men, 78 women, average age: 56.8 ± 9.1 years) with MDD + HYT were enrolled, with 89 healthy subjects (29 men, 60 women, average age: 57.4 ± 9.7 years) were enrolled. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 and self-rating depression scale scoring scales were used to assess the depression degree of patients, serum ACE methylation level in MDD + HYT patients was measured by means of bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction, with subsequent analysis of the diagnostic efficacy of ACE methylation for MDD + HYT. The independent risk factors for sMDD + HYT were explored.

Results: Serum ACE methylation levels were significantly increased in MDD + HYT patients. The area under the curve of serum ACE methylation level for accurate diagnosis of MDD + HYT was 0.8471, and the cut-off value was 26.9 (sensitivity 83.19%, specificity 73.03%). ACE methylation was an independent risk factor for sMDD + HYT (P = 0.014; odds ratio, 1.071; 95% confidence interval = 1.014-1.131).

Conclusion: The elevated serum ACE methylation level (P < 0.001) in patients with MDD + HYT elicited definite diagnostic values for MDD + HYT, and ACE methylation level was independently correlated with sMDD + HYT (P < 0.05).