Table 4 Overview of referenced studies investigating the association between DNAm and child outcome
From: Epigenetics of prenatal stress in humans: the current research landscape
References | Candidate genes | Method DNAm | Sample Size | Exposure, exposure sample size and timing (if available) | Outcome and timing | Tissue | Age and sex (if available) | Result* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[1] | HSD11B2, NR3C1 | Pyro-sequencing | 372 | Infant neurobehavior (NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS)) | DNAm at birth | Placenta | Newborns; 50% male | Low NR3C1 DNAm and high HSD11B2 DNAm associated with lower excitability scores; high NR3C1 DNAm and low HSD11B2 DNAm associated with asymmetrical reflexes; high DNAm associated with higher habituation scores |
[17] | HSD11B2, NR3C1 | Pyro-sequencing | 482 | Prenatal maternal anxiety and depression | DNAm and internalizing problems | Placenta | Newborns; 48% male | Positive correlation between NR3C1 DNAm and internalizing problems |
[68] | NR3C1 | Pyro-sequencing | 82 | Depressed/ anxious mood in 3rd trimester | DNAm in newborns and cortisol response at 3Â months | Cordblood | Newborns; 44% male | Hypermethylation in NR3C1 which was also associated with increased HPA stress responsiveness at 3Â months |
[13]a | Candidate genes from established Type-1 and -2 diabetes mellitus pathways | 450K array | 31 | Maternal stress during exposure to Quebec ice storm | DNAm, child BMI | Blood | Children; mean age 13Â years | Significant negative mediation of DNAm of the effect of objective prenatal maternal stress on central adiposity and BMI |
[12]a | Candidate genes from established Type-1 and -2 diabetes mellitus pathways | 450K array | 30 | Maternal stress during exposure to Quebec ice storm | DNAm, C-peptide secretion in response to an oral glucose tolerance test | Blood | Children; mean age 13Â years | Significant mediation of DNAm of the relationship between maternal cognitive appraisal of a natural disaster in pregnancy and C-peptide production in adolescent offspring |
[46] | FKBP5 | Pyro-sequencing | 76 | Childhood trauma; n = 30 exposed, n = 46 unexposed; glucocortiocoid receptor sensitivity | DNAm in adults | Blood | Adults; mean age 41 years | Allele-specific, childhood trauma–dependent DNA demethylation in functional glucocorticoid response elements of FKBP5 linked to dysregulation of the stress hormone system and a global effect on the function of immune cells and brain areas associated with stress regulation |
[52] | HSD11B2 | Pyro-sequencing | 185 | NNNS | DNAm | Placenta | Newborns; 45% male | Increasing DNAm associated with reduced scores of quality of movement; increased DNAm associated with lower expression of HSD11B2 |
[74] | FKBP5 | Pyro-sequencing | 509 | NNNS | DNAm | Placenta | Newborns; 49% male | Infants in the highest quartile of FKBP5 DNAm with increased risk of NNNS high arousal compared to infants in the lowest quartile |
[75] | ADCYAP1R1, FKBP5, HSD11B2, NR3C1 | Pyro-sequencing | 537 | NNNS | DNAm | Placenta | Newborns; 49% male | DNAm patterns of glucocorticoid response genes associated with adaption to postnatal stress among healthy populations of infants exposed to low-to-moderate prenatal stress |