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Baker BH, Freije S, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Benson C, Carroll KN, Enquobahrie DA, Karr CJ, LeWinn KZ, Zhao Q, Bush NR, Sathyanarayana S, Paquette AG. Placental transcriptomic signatures of prenatal and preconceptional maternal stress. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1179-1191. [PMID: 38212375 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal psychological stress is associated with increased risk for adverse birth and child health outcomes. Accumulating evidence suggests that preconceptional maternal stress may also be transmitted intergenerationally to negatively impact offspring. However, understanding of mechanisms linking these exposures to offspring outcomes, particularly those related to placenta, is limited. Using RNA sequencing, we identified placental transcriptomic signatures associated with maternal prenatal stressful life events (SLEs) and childhood traumatic events (CTEs) in 1 029 mother-child pairs in two birth cohorts from Washington state and Memphis, Tennessee. We evaluated individual gene-SLE/CTE associations and performed an ensemble of gene set enrichment analyses combing across 11 popular enrichment methods. Higher number of prenatal SLEs was significantly (FDR < 0.05) associated with increased expression of ADGRG6, a placental tissue-specific gene critical in placental remodeling, and decreased expression of RAB11FIP3, an endocytosis and endocytic recycling gene, and SMYD5, a histone methyltransferase. Prenatal SLEs and maternal CTEs were associated with gene sets related to several biological pathways, including upregulation of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, protein secretion, and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, and down regulation of ribosome, epithelial mesenchymal transition, DNA repair, MYC targets, and amino acid-related pathways. The directional associations in these pathways corroborate prior non-transcriptomic mechanistic studies of psychological stress and mental health disorders, and have previously been implicated in pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. Accordingly, our findings suggest that maternal exposure to psychosocial stressors during pregnancy as well as the mother's childhood may disrupt placental function, which may ultimately contribute to adverse pregnancy, birth, and child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Ciara Benson
- Global Alliance to Prevent Preterm Birth and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Lynnwood, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Miranda J, Sanabria MF, Annicchiarico W, Alfieri N, Cortes MS. Maternal and perinatal health among pregnant patients in the context of a migratory crisis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 163:416-422. [PMID: 37439260 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes of migrant Venezuelan women with local pregnant patients in a Colombian institution in the context of a migratory crisis. STUDY DESIGN This cross-sectional study included 11 304 deliveries from the Clínica de Maternidad Rafael Calvo in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, a tertiary referral center on the north coast of Colombia. Data on maternal demographics and perinatal outcomes were obtained by chart review. RESULTS In total, 595 patients were identified as Venezuelan migrants, and their perinatal outcomes were compared against those of 10 709 local pregnant patients. Despite similar baseline maternal conditions in both groups, poorer prenatal follow-up care (3 [1-5] vs. 5 [4-7] visits; P < 0.001) and severe complications were more common in Venezuelan migrant pregnant patients and their children. In addition, maternal hypertension was significantly more common in migrants (11.4% [68/595] vs. 8.3% [887/10709]; P = 0.009). Furthermore, in the group of pregnant migrant patients, the rates of severe maternal morbidity (13.4% [80/575] vs. 9.45%, [1013/10709]; P = 0.002), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (22/595 [3.7%] vs. 237/10709 [2.23%]; P = 0.03), and perinatal mortality (11/586 [1.88%] vs. 67/10651 [0.63%]; P = 0.003) were significantly higher than in the local pregnant population. CONCLUSION Forced migration during pregnancy may be associated with poorer prenatal care, which may predispose women and their newborns to more frequent adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jezid Miranda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grupo de Investigación en Cuidado Intensivo y Obstetricia (GRICIO), Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centro Hospitalario Serena del Mar, Cartagena de Indias y Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María F Sanabria
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grupo de Investigación en Cuidado Intensivo y Obstetricia (GRICIO), Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Walter Annicchiarico
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grupo de Investigación en Cuidado Intensivo y Obstetricia (GRICIO), Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Nikita Alfieri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Magdalena Sanz Cortes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Therapy and Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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Severo M, Ventriglio A, Bellomo A, Iuso S, Petito A. Maternal perinatal depression and child neurocognitive development: A relationship still to be clarified. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1151897. [PMID: 37020735 PMCID: PMC10067625 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1151897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy frequently is associated with emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression. Perinatal depression has an incidence of around 12%. Only recently researcher put the attention on the effects of pre- and postpartum psychopathology on infant neurocognitive development. Neurobiology studies indicate that perinatal maternal depression can significantly affect the structure and function of children's prefrontal cortex and modulate the development of cognitive abilities from intrauterine life. On the topic, the scientific literature appears ambiguous, reporting mixed results. Some studies have found no significant differences in developmental outcomes between prenatal and postpartum exposure to maternal depression, others have suggested a greater burden of depression in pregnancy than in postpartum, and still others have emphasized the role of chronicity of symptoms rather than the period of onset. Few studies have examined the effects of different developmental trajectories of maternal depression on children's neurocognitive outcomes. The assessment of maternal health has for years been limited to postpartum depression often neglecting the timing of onset, the intensity of symptoms and their chronicity. These aspects have received less attention than they deserve, especially in relation to the effects on children's neurocognitive development. The aim of this Perspective was to highlight inconsistencies and gaps that need to be filled in the approach to the study of this problem. Given the wide heterogeneity of data in the current literature, further studies are needed to clarify these interactions. This Perspective provides an overview of current progress, future directions, and a presentation of the authors' views on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Severo
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Ventriglio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Iuso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Petito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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Lapehn S, Paquette AG. The Placental Epigenome as a Molecular Link Between Prenatal Exposures and Fetal Health Outcomes Through the DOHaD Hypothesis. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:490-501. [PMID: 35488174 PMCID: PMC9363315 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that the perinatal environment can impact fetal and later life health. The placenta is uniquely situated to assess prenatal exposures in the context of DOHaD because it is an essential ephemeral fetal organ that manages the transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and endocrine signals between the mother and fetus. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that evaluated the DOHaD hypothesis in human placentas using epigenomics, including DNA methylation and transcriptomic studies of mRNA, lncRNA, and microRNAs. Recent Findings Between 2016 and 2021, 28 articles evaluated associations between prenatal exposures and placental epigenomics across broad exposure categories including maternal smoking, psychosocial stressors, chemicals, air pollution, and metals. Sixteen of these studies connected exposures to health outcome such as birth weight, fetal growth, or infant neurobehavior through mediation analysis, identification of shared associations between exposure and outcome, or network analysis. These aspects of infant and childhood health serve as a foundation for future studies that aim to use placental epigenetics to understand relationships between the prenatal environment and perinatal complications (such as preterm birth or fetal growth restriction) or later life childhood health. Summary Placental DNA methylation and RNA expression have been linked to numerous prenatal exposures, such as PM2.5 air pollution, metals, and maternal smoking, as well as infant and childhood health outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight. Placental epigenomics provides a unique opportunity to expand the DOHaD premise, particularly if research applies novel methodologies such as multi-omics analysis, sequencing of non-coding RNAs, mixtures analysis, and assessment of health outcomes beyond early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Varela RB, Cararo JH, Tye SJ, Carvalho AF, Valvassori SS, Fries GR, Quevedo J. Contributions of epigenetic inheritance to the predisposition of major psychiatric disorders: theoretical framework, evidence, and implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Lund RJ, Kyläniemi M, Pettersson N, Kaukonen R, Konki M, Scheinin NM, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Ekholm E. Placental DNA methylation marks are associated with maternal depressive symptoms during early pregnancy. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100374. [PMID: 34401410 PMCID: PMC8353413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy are a significant risk factor for adverse developmental and health outcomes of the offspring. The molecular mechanisms mediating the long-term effects of this exposure are not well understood. Previous studies have found association between prenatal exposure to maternal psychological distress and placental DNA methylation of candidate genes, which can influence placental barrier function and development of the fetus. Our objective in this study was to determine epigenome wide association of maternal depressive symptoms in early pregnancy with the placental DNA methylation. For this purpose we examined DNA methylomes of 92 placental samples by using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. The placental samples were collected after deliveries of 39 girls and 59 boys, whose mothers had Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score ranging from 0 to 19 at gestational week 14. According to our results maternal depressive symptoms are associated with DNA methylation of 2833 CpG sites, which are particularly over-represented in genic enhancers. The genes overlapping or nearest to these sites are functionally enriched for development of neurons and show expression enrichment in several regions of developing brain. The genomic regions harboring the DNA methylation marks are enriched for single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with mental disease trait class. Potential cellular signaling cascades mediating the effects include inflammatory and hormonal pathways. As a conclusion our results suggest that maternal depressive symptoms during early pregnancy are associated with DNA methylation marks in placenta in genes, which are important for the development and long-term health of the brain. Whether similar marks can be detected in exposed children remains to be elucidated in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka J. Lund
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Minna Kyläniemi
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Nina Pettersson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Riina Kaukonen
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Mikko Konki
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Noora M. Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry and Turku Brain and Mind Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry and Turku Brain and Mind Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Eeva Ekholm
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Czamara D, Dieckmann L, Röh S, Kraemer S, Rancourt RC, Sammallahti S, Kajantie E, Laivuori H, Eriksson JG, Räikkönen K, Henrich W, Plagemann A, Binder EB, Braun T, Entringer S. Betamethasone administration during pregnancy is associated with placental epigenetic changes with implications for inflammation. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:165. [PMID: 34446099 PMCID: PMC8393766 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01153-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoids (GCs) play a pivotal role in fetal programming. Antenatal treatment with synthetic GCs (sGCs) in individuals in danger of preterm labor is common practice. Adverse short- and long-term effects of antenatal sGCs have been reported, but their effects on placental epigenetic characteristics have never been systematically studied in humans. RESULTS We tested the association between exposure to the sGC betamethasone (BET) and placental DNA methylation (DNAm) in 52 exposed cases and 84 gestational-age-matched controls. We fine-mapped associated loci using targeted bisulfite sequencing. The association of placental DNAm with gene expression and co-expression analysis on implicated genes was performed in an independent cohort including 494 placentas. Exposure to BET was significantly associated with lower placenta DNAm at an enhancer of FKBP5. FKBP5 (FK506-binding protein 51) is a co-chaperone that modulates glucocorticoid receptor activity. Lower DNAm at this enhancer site was associated with higher expression of FKBP5 and a co-expressed gene module. This module is enriched for genes associated with preeclampsia and involved in inflammation and immune response. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that BET exposure during pregnancy associates with few but lasting changes in placental DNAm and may promote a gene expression profile associated with placental dysfunction and increased inflammation. This may represent a pathway mediating GC-associated negative long-term consequences and health outcomes in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Linda Dieckmann
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Simone Röh
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah Kraemer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rebecca C. Rancourt
- Department of Experimental Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Sammallahti
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eero Kajantie
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland
| | - Johan G. Eriksson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wolfgang Henrich
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Plagemann
- Department of Experimental Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Thorsten Braun
- Department of Experimental Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité − Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA USA
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Lim HA, Chua TE, Malhotra R, Allen JC, Teo I, Chern BSM, Tan KH, Chen H. Identifying trajectories of antenatal depression in women and their associations with gestational age and neonatal anthropometry: A prospective cohort study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2019; 61:26-33. [PMID: 31710855 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study sought to determine the longitudinal trajectories of antenatal depression and examine their associations with birth outcomes. METHOD 926 healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies within 14 weeks of gestation participated in this prospective cohort study. Women completed a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire and the locally-validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in their first, second, and third trimesters, and prior to parturition. Gestational age and neonatal weight, length, and head circumference were recorded at birth. Group-based trajectory modelling characterized trajectories of antenatal depression. Analyses of covariance and covariate-adjusted linear regressions identified associations between trajectories and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS Four distinct non-fluctuating trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified, with 9% women suffering from probable clinical depression throughout the pregnancy. Women in this persistently-moderate depression trajectory delivered 2.48 days earlier than in other trajectories; a one-point increase in EPDS scores was associated with an adjusted reduction of 5.82 g in birthweight. CONCLUSIONS Although meaningful trajectories were identified, no clinically relevant associations between persistently-moderate depressive symptoms with neonatal outcomes were found. The stability of these trajectories, however, suggests the importance of screening for depressive symptoms early in pregnancy to identify women who may benefit from greater formal and informal support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haikel A Lim
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
| | - Tze-Ern Chua
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
| | - Rahul Malhotra
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
| | - John C Allen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
| | - Irene Teo
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
| | - Bernard S M Chern
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
| | - Kok Hian Tan
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
| | - Helen Chen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
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9
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Wang Y, Liu Q, Tang F, Yan L, Qiao J. Epigenetic Regulation and Risk Factors During the Development of Human Gametes and Early Embryos. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2019; 20:21-40. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083118-015143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Drastic epigenetic reprogramming occurs during human gametogenesis and early embryo development. Advances in low-input and single-cell epigenetic techniques have provided powerful tools to dissect the genome-wide dynamics of different epigenetic molecular layers in these processes. In this review, we focus mainly on the most recent progress in understanding the dynamics of DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and histone modifications in human gametogenesis and early embryo development. Deficiencies in remodeling of the epigenomes can cause severe developmental defects, infertility, and long-term health issues in offspring. Aspects of the external environment, including assisted reproductive technology procedures, parental diets, and unhealthy parental habits, may disturb the epigenetic reprogramming processes and lead to an aberrant epigenome in the offspring. Here, we review the current knowledge of the potential risk factors of aberrant epigenomes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China;, , ,
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China;, , ,
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Liying Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China;, , ,
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China;, , ,
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Litzky JF, Marsit CJ. Epigenetically regulated imprinted gene expression associated with IVF and infertility: possible influence of prenatal stress and depression. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019; 36:1299-1313. [PMID: 31127477 PMCID: PMC6642239 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01483-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the growing body of research implying an impact of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on imprinted genes and epigenetics, few studies have examined the effects of underlying subfertility or prenatal stress on epigenetics, particularly in terms of their role in determining infant birthweights. Both subfertility and prenatal stressors have been found to impact epigenetics and may be confounding the effect of IVF on epigenetics and imprinted genes. Like IVF, both of these exposures-infertility and prenatal stressors-have been associated with lower infant birthweights. The placenta, and specifically epigenetically regulated placental imprinted genes, provides an ideal but understudied mechanism for evaluating the relationship between underlying genetics, environmental exposures, and birthweight. METHODS AND RESULTS In this review, we discuss the impacts of IVF and infertility on birthweight, epigenetic mechanisms and genomic imprinting, and the role of these mechanisms in the IVF population and discuss the role and importance of the placenta in infant development. We then highlight recent work on the relationships between infertility, IVF, and prenatal stressors in terms of placental imprinting. CONCLUSIONS In combination, the studies discussed, as well as two recent projects of our own on placental imprinted gene expression, suggest that lower birthweights in IVF infants are secondary to a combination of exposures including the infertility and prenatal stress that couples undergoing IVF are experiencing. The work highlighted herein emphasizes the need for appropriate control populations that take infertility into account and also for consideration of prenatal psychosocial stressors as confounders and causes of variation in IVF infant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia F Litzky
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, CNR 202, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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