Together, these data establish the importance of SKA2 for cortisol stress responsivity and the development of PTSD and provide further evidence that SKA2 is a promising biomarker for stress-related disorders including PTSD.
Associations between PTSD and SKA2 were not significant, and genetic variation at the methylation-associated SNP (rs7208505) was not related to any of the phenotypes examined.
Cumulatively, the data suggest that epigenetic variation at SKA2 mediates vulnerability to suicidal behaviors and PTSD through dysregulation of the HPA axis in response to stress.