We aim to obtain comprehensive DNA methylation data from peripheral blood samples of teenage children with histories of abuse (with or without suicidal ideation/behavior) and children in the control group, and investigate whether the epigenetic signatures we previously identified in young suicide decedents, such as “epigenetic aging, telomere shortening, and increased NK cells”, are significantly more likely to occur in (1) children with histories of abuse compared to healthy children, and (2) among children with abuse history, in the group with suicidal ideation/behavior. In addition, we aim to perform single-cell RNA sequencing on blood samples from children with histories of severe abuse and suicidality (as well as some control children), and analyze gene expressions specific in cell type and cell composition ratios at single-cell level.

In addition, we have established a single-cell RNA sequencing experiment system using multiplexing methods to reduce costs and mitigate batch effects, and we are currently performing single-cell RNA sequencing on blood samples from individuals with a history of abuse and pronounced suicidal ideation or behavior, along with controls. Prior analyses have shown altered immune cell counts and gene expression patterns in specific blood cell types among affected individuals.