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Durán-Carabali LE, Odorcyk FK, Grun LK, Schmitz F, Ramires Junior OV, de Oliveria MR, Campos KF, Hoeper E, Carvalho AVS, Greggio S, Venturine GT, Zimmer ER, Barbé-Tuana F, Wyse ATS, Netto CA. Maternal environmental enrichment protects neonatal brains from hypoxic-ischemic challenge by mitigating brain energetic dysfunction and modulating glial cell responses. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114713. [PMID: 38325654 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114713] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
There is evidence that maternal milieu and changes in environmental factors during the prenatal period may exert a lasting impact on the brain health of the newborn, even in case of neonatal brain hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal environmental enrichment (EE) on HI-induced energetic and metabolic failure, along with subsequent neural cell responses in the early postnatal period. Male Wistar pups born to dams exposed to maternal EE or standard conditions (SC) were randomly divided into Sham-SC, HI-SC, Sham-EE, and HI-EE groups. Neonatal HI was induced on postnatal day (PND) 3. The Na+,K+-ATPase activity, mitochondrial function and neuroinflammatory related-proteins were assessed at 24 h and 48 h after HI. MicroPET-FDG scans were used to measure glucose uptake at three time points: 24 h post-HI, PND18, and PND24. Moreover, neuronal preservation and glial cell responses were evaluated at PND18. After HI, animals exposed to maternal EE showed an increase in Na+,K+-ATPase activity, preservation of mitochondrial potential/mass ratio, and a reduction in mitochondrial swelling. Glucose uptake was preserved in HI-EE animals from PND18 onwards. Maternal EE attenuated HI-induced cell degeneration, white matter injury, and reduced astrocyte immunofluorescence. Moreover, the HI-EE group exhibited elevated levels of IL-10 and a reduction in Iba-1 positive cells. Data suggested that the regulation of AKT/ERK1/2 signaling pathways could be involved in the effects of maternal EE. This study evidenced that antenatal environmental stimuli could promote bioenergetic and neural resilience in the offspring against early HI damage, supporting the translational value of pregnancy-focused environmental treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Durán-Carabali
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - F K Odorcyk
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L K Grun
- Group of Inflammation and Cellular Senescence, Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Sciences, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - F Schmitz
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab.), Brazil
| | - O V Ramires Junior
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab.), Brazil
| | - M R de Oliveria
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - K F Campos
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - E Hoeper
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Neuroscience, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - A V S Carvalho
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - S Greggio
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedicine, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Preclinical Research Center, Brain Institute (BraIns) of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - G T Venturine
- Preclinical Research Center, Brain Institute (BraIns) of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - E R Zimmer
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F Barbé-Tuana
- Group of Inflammation and Cellular Senescence, Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Sciences, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - A T S Wyse
- Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse's Lab.), Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - C A Netto
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Taheri F, Joushi S, Esmaeilpour K, Ebrahimi MN, Taherizadeh Z, Taheri P, Sheibani V. Transmission of behavioral and cognitive impairments across generations in rats subjected to prenatal valproic acid exposure. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2309. [PMID: 38343145 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2309] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents an inheritable neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. Numerous studies have underscored the significant roles played by genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of ASD, and these factors are known to perpetuate behavioral impairments across generations. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to assess the behavioral and cognitive attributes in the second filial (F2) generation of male and female rats, with a particular focus on those whose parents had been exposed to valproic acid (VPA) during embryonic development. METHODS In this study, a cohort of 32 male and 32 female rats from the second filial (F2) generation, referred to as Mother.ASD, Father.ASD, or Both.ASD, was examined. These designations indicate whether the mother, father, or both parents had experienced embryonic exposure to valproic acid (600 mg/kg, i.p.). During adolescence, the F2 pups underwent behavioral and cognitive assessments, including open field testing, marble burying, social interaction evaluations, and Morris water maze tasks. RESULTS Our data revealed that while both the Mother.ASD and Father.ASD groups, regardless of sex, exhibited elevated anxiety-like behavior in the open field test. Only the Mother.ASD group displayed repetitive behaviors and deficits in social memory. Additionally, spatial memory impairments were observed in both sexes. These findings highlight the transmission of autistic-like behaviors in the offspring of Mother.ASD rats from both sexes. Nevertheless, future research endeavors should be more targeted in identifying the specific genes responsible for this transmission. CONCLUSION In summary, our findings underscore the transmission of autistic-like behaviors, including anxiety-like behavior, repetitive actions, impairments in social interactions, and deficits in memory, to the offspring of the Mother.ASD group, irrespective of their sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sara Joushi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Public health school, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Navid Ebrahimi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zahra Taherizadeh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Parichehr Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Chou PC, Huang YC, Yu S. Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:98. [PMID: 38255713 PMCID: PMC10817356 DOI: 10.3390/life14010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that causes debilitating functional impairment in patients. Observations from survivors of traumatic historical events solidify that this disease is not only associated with personal experiences but can also be inherited from familial traumas. Over the past decades, researchers have focused on epigenetic inheritance to understand how responses to adverse experiences can be passed down to future generations. This review aims to present recent findings on epigenetic markers related to PTSD and research in the intergenerational inheritance of trauma. By understanding the information, we hope that epigenetic markers can act as biochemical measurements for future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Chen Chou
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Chi Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan;
| | - Sebastian Yu
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Master of Public Health Degree Program, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
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Vera-Chang MN, Danforth JM, Stuart M, Goodarzi AA, Brand M, Richardson RB. Profound DNA methylomic differences between single- and multi-fraction alpha irradiations of lung fibroblasts. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:174. [PMID: 37891670 PMCID: PMC10612361 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01564-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alpha (α)-radiation is a ubiquitous environmental agent with epigenotoxic effects. Human exposure to α-radiation at potentially harmful levels can occur repetitively over the long term via inhalation of naturally occurring radon gas that accumulates in enclosed spaces, or as a result of a single exposure from a nuclear accident. Alterations in epigenetic DNA methylation (DNAm) have been implicated in normal aging and cancer pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the effects of aberrations in the methylome of human lung cells following exposure to single or multiple α-irradiation events on these processes remain unexplored. RESULTS We performed genome-wide DNAm profiling of human embryonic lung fibroblasts from control and irradiated cells using americium-241 α-sources. Cells were α-irradiated in quadruplicates to seven doses using two exposure regimens, a single-fraction (SF) where the total dose was given at once, and a multi-fraction (MF) method, where the total dose was equally distributed over 14 consecutive days. Our results revealed that SF irradiations were prone to a decrease in DNAm levels, while MF irradiations mostly increased DNAm. The analysis also showed that the gene body (i.e., exons and introns) was the region most altered by both the SF hypomethylation and the MF hypermethylation. Additionally, the MF irradiations induced the highest number of differentially methylated regions in genes associated with DNAm biomarkers of aging, carcinogenesis, and cardiovascular disease. The DNAm profile of the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes suggests that the fibroblasts manifested a defensive response to the MF α-irradiation. Key DNAm events of ionizing radiation exposure, including changes in methylation levels in mitochondria dysfunction-related genes, were mainly identified in the MF groups. However, these alterations were under-represented, indicating that the mitochondria undergo adaptive mechanisms, aside from DNAm, in response to radiation-induced oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS We identified a contrasting methylomic profile in the lung fibroblasts α-irradiated to SF compared with MF exposures. These findings demonstrate that the methylome response of the lung cells to α-radiation is highly dependent on both the total dose and the exposure regimen. They also provide novel insights into potential biomarkers of α-radiation, which may contribute to the development of innovative approaches to detect, prevent, and treat α-particle-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn N Vera-Chang
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - John M Danforth
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, Robson DNA Science Centre, Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marilyne Stuart
- Environment and Waste Technologies Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - Aaron A Goodarzi
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, Robson DNA Science Centre, Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marjorie Brand
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Richard B Richardson
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada.
- McGill Medical Physics Unit, Cedars Cancer Centre-Glen Site, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
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Zhou A, Ryan J. Biological Embedding of Early-Life Adversity and a Scoping Review of the Evidence for Intergenerational Epigenetic Transmission of Stress and Trauma in Humans. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1639. [PMID: 37628690 PMCID: PMC10454883 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe or chronic stress and trauma can have a detrimental impact on health. Evidence suggests that early-life adversity can become biologically embedded and has the potential to influence health outcomes decades later. Epigenetics is one mechanism that has been implicated in these long-lasting effects. Observational studies in humans indicate that the effects of stress could even persist across generations, although whether or not epigenetic mechanisms are involved remains under debate. Here, we provide an overview of studies in animals and humans that demonstrate the effects of early-life stress on DNA methylation, one of the most widely studied epigenetic mechanisms, and summarize findings from animal models demonstrating the involvement of epigenetics in the transmission of stress across generations. We then describe the results of a scoping review to determine the extent to which the terms intergenerational or transgenerational have been used in human studies investigating the transmission of trauma and stress via epigenetic mechanisms. We end with a discussion of key areas for future research to advance understanding of the role of epigenetics in the legacy effects of stress and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoshuang Zhou
- Division of Epidemiology, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joanne Ryan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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Swales DA, Davis EP, Mahrer NE, Guardino CM, Shalowitz MU, Ramey SL, Schetter CD. Preconception maternal posttraumatic stress and child negative affectivity: Prospectively evaluating the intergenerational impact of trauma. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:619-629. [PMID: 35074031 PMCID: PMC9309186 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The developmental origins of psychopathology begin before birth and perhaps even prior to conception. Understanding the intergenerational transmission of psychopathological risk is critical to identify sensitive windows for prevention and early intervention. Prior research demonstrates that maternal trauma history, typically assessed retrospectively, has adverse consequences for child socioemotional development. However, very few prospective studies of preconception trauma exist, and the role of preconception symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains unknown. The current study prospectively evaluates whether maternal preconception PTSD symptoms predict early childhood negative affectivity, a key dimension of temperament and predictor of later psychopathology. One hundred and eighteen women were recruited following a birth and prior to conception of the study child and were followed until the study child was 3-5 years old. Higher maternal PTSD symptoms prior to conception predicted greater child negative affectivity, adjusting for concurrent maternal depressive symptoms and sociodemographic covariates. In exploratory analyses, we found that neither maternal prenatal nor postpartum depressive symptoms or perceived stress mediated this association. These findings add to a limited prospective literature, highlighting the importance of assessing the mental health of women prior to conception and providing interventions that can disrupt the intergenerational sequelae of trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | | | | | - Madeleine U. Shalowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL
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D'Addario SL, Municchi D, Mancini C, Ielpo D, Babicola L, Di Segni M, Iacono LL, Ferlazzo F, Cifani C, Andolina D, Ventura R. The long-lasting effects of early life adversities are sex dependent: The signature of miR-34a. J Affect Disord 2023; 322:277-288. [PMID: 36414112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to early life adversities (ELA) can influence a plethora of biological mechanisms leading to stress-related disorders later in life through epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs (miRs). MiR-34 is a critical modulator of stress response and stress-induced pathologies and a link between ELA and miR-34a has been reported. METHODS Here using our well-established model of ELA (Repeated Cross Fostering) we investigate the behavioral long-term effects of ELA in male and female mice. We also assess basal and ELA-induced miR-34a expression in adult mice and investigate whether ELA affects the later miR-34a response to adult acute stress exposure across brain areas (medial preFrontal Cortex, Dorsal Raphe Nuclei) and peripheral organs (heart, plasma) in animals from both sexes. Finally, based on our previous data demonstrating the critical role of Dorsal Raphe Nuclei miR-34a expression in serotonin (5-HT) transmission, we also investigated prefrontal-accumbal 5-HT outflow induced by acute stress exposure in ELA and Control females by in vivo intracerebral microdialysis. RESULTS ELA not just induces a depressive-like state as well as enduring changes in miR-34a expression, but also alters miR-34a expression in response to adult acute stress exclusively in females. Finally, altered DRN miR-34a expression is associated with prefrontal-accumbal 5-HT release under acute stress exposure in females. LIMITATIONS Translational study on humans is necessary to verify the results obtained in our animal models of ELA-induced depression. CONCLUSIONS This is the first evidence showing long-lasting sex related effects of ELA on brain and peripheral miR-34a expression levels in an animal model of depression-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Diana Municchi
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Camilla Mancini
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
| | - Donald Ielpo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Lucy Babicola
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | | | - Luisa Lo Iacono
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Fabio Ferlazzo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
| | - Diego Andolina
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Rossella Ventura
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy; Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome 00184, Italy.
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Azar N, Booij L. DNA methylation as a mediator in the association between prenatal maternal stress and child mental health outcomes: Current state of knowledge. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:142-163. [PMID: 36113690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal stress is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for offspring mental health challenges. DNA methylation may be a mechanism, but few studies directly tested mediation. These few integrative studies are reviewed along with studies from three research areas: prenatal maternal stress and child mental health, prenatal maternal stress and child DNA methylation, and child mental health and DNA methylation. METHODS We conducted a narrative review of articles in each research area and the few published integrative studies to evaluate the state of knowledge. RESULTS Prenatal maternal stress was related to greater offspring internalizing and externalizing symptoms and to greater offspring peripheral DNA methylation of the NR3C1 gene. Youth mental health problems were also related to NR3C1 hypermethylation while epigenome-wide studies identified genes involved in nervous system development. Integrative studies focused on infant outcomes and did not detect significant mediation by DNA methylation though methodological considerations may partially explain these null results. LIMITATIONS Operationalization of prenatal maternal stress and child mental health varied greatly. The few published integrative studies did not report conclusive evidence of mediation by DNA methylation. CONCLUSIONS DNA methylation likely mediates the association between prenatal maternal stress and child mental health. This conclusion still needs to be tested in a larger number of integrative studies. Key empirical and statistical considerations for future research are discussed. Understanding the consequences of prenatal maternal stress and its pathways of influence will help prevention and intervention efforts and ultimately promote well-being for both mothers and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Azar
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, 3175 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, 3175 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
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Verdikt R, Armstrong AA, Allard P. Transgenerational inheritance and its modulation by environmental cues. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 152:31-76. [PMID: 36707214 PMCID: PMC9940302 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The epigenome plays an important role in shaping phenotypes. However, whether the environment can alter an organism's phenotype across several generations through epigenetic remodeling in the germline is still a highly debated topic. In this chapter, we briefly review the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance and their connection with germline development before highlighting specific developmental windows of susceptibility to environmental cues. We further discuss the evidence of transgenerational inheritance to a range of different environmental cues, both epidemiological in humans and experimental in rodent models. Doing so, we pinpoint the current challenges in demonstrating transgenerational inheritance to environmental cues and offer insight in how recent technological advances may help deciphering the epigenetic mechanisms at play. Together, we draw a detailed picture of how our environment can influence our epigenomes, ultimately reshaping our phenotypes, in an extended theory of inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Verdikt
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Abigail A Armstrong
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Allard
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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10
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Paul EN, Grey JA, Carpenter TJ, Madaj ZB, Lau KH, Givan SA, Burns GW, Chandler RL, Wegienka GR, Shen H, Teixeira JM. Transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses reveal underlying mechanisms for the racial disparity in uterine fibroids. JCI Insight 2022; 7:160274. [PMID: 36066972 PMCID: PMC9714787 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.160274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) affect Black women disproportionately compared with women of other races and ethnicities in terms of prevalence, incidence, and severity of symptoms. The causes of this racial disparity are essentially unknown. We hypothesized that myometria of Black women are more susceptible to developing fibroids, and we examined the transcriptomic and DNA methylation profiles of myometria and fibroids from Black and White women for comparison. Myometrial samples cluster by race in both their transcriptome and DNA methylation profiles, whereas fibroid samples only cluster by race in the latter. More differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the Black and White myometrial sample comparison than in the fibroid comparison. Leiomyoma gene set expression analysis identified 4 clusters of DEGs, including a cluster of 24 genes with higher expression in myometrial samples from Black women. One of the DEGs in this group, von Willibrands factor (VWF), was significantly hypomethylated in both myometrial samples from Black women and in all fibroids at 2 CpG probes that are near a putative enhancer site and that are correlated with VWF expression levels. These results suggest that the molecular basis for the disparity in fibroid disease between Black and White women could be found in the myometria before fibroid development and not in the fibroids themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel N. Paul
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Joshua A. Grey
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Tyler J. Carpenter
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Zachary B. Madaj
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Kin H. Lau
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Scott A. Givan
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Gregory W. Burns
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Ronald L. Chandler
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Ganesa R. Wegienka
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Jose M. Teixeira
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Magierecka A, Aristeidou A, Papaevripidou M, Gibson JK, Sloman KA, Metcalfe NB. Timing of reproduction modifies transgenerational effects of chronic exposure to stressors in an annual vertebrate. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221462. [PMID: 36476008 PMCID: PMC9554732 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful environmental conditions can shape both an individual's phenotype and that of its offspring. However, little is known about transgenerational effects of chronic (as opposed to acute) stressors, nor whether these vary across the breeding lifespan of the parent. We exposed adult female (F0 generation) three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to chronic environmental stressors and compared their reproductive allocation with that of non-exposed controls across early, middle and late clutches produced within the single breeding season of this annual population. There was a seasonal trend (but no treatment difference) in F0 reproductive allocation, with increases in egg mass and fry size in late clutches. We then tested for transgenerational effects in the non-exposed F1 and F2 generations. Exposure of F0 females to stressors resulted in phenotypic change in their offspring and grandoffspring that were produced late in their breeding lifespan: F1 offspring produced from the late-season clutches of stressor-exposed F0 females had higher early life survival, and subsequently produced heavier eggs and F2 fry that were larger at hatching. Changed maternal allocation due to a combination of seasonal factors and environmental stressors can thus have a transgenerational effect by influencing the reproductive allocation of daughters, especially those born late in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Magierecka
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Antreas Aristeidou
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Maria Papaevripidou
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - John K. Gibson
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Katherine A. Sloman
- Institute for Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire G72 0LH, UK
| | - Neil B. Metcalfe
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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12
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Sarigedik E, Naldemir IF, Karaman AK, Altinsoy HB. Intergenerational transmission of psychological trauma: A structural neuroimaging study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2022; 326:111538. [PMID: 36113385 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic events have an important effect in human life and may lead to psychopathological disturbances by affecting the personal and social lives of individuals. Recently, various studies have been reported in the literature showing that the traumatic experiences may be associated with intergenerational psychopathologies. However, there is limited data regarding the neuroimaging studies investigating changes in brain structures in children of traumatized mothers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential changes in the hippocampus and amygdala volumes in the children of mothers exposed to mass trauma. The traumatic event experienced by the mothers was the two devastating earthquakes they experienced when they were teenagers. Hippocampus and amygdala volumes were evaluated in magnetic resonance imaging of 40 children whose mothers were exposed to earthquakes and 27 children in control group. Bilateral amygdala volumes were significantly smaller in the children of mothers exposed to earthquake compared to the control group. In addition, right amygdala and hippocampus volumes were smaller in children of mothers exposed to earthquakes than left. This is one of the pioneering neuroimaging studies on the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Our study shows that there may be a potential relationship between intergenerational trauma and various brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enes Sarigedik
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
| | | | - Ahmet Kursat Karaman
- Department of Radiology, Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasan Baki Altinsoy
- Department of Radiology, Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Duzce, Turkey
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13
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Huffhines L, Coe JL, Busuito A, Seifer R, Parade SH. Understanding links between maternal perinatal posttraumatic stress symptoms and infant socioemotional and physical health. Infant Ment Health J 2022; 43:474-492. [PMID: 35513001 PMCID: PMC9177799 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are associated with adverse consequences for older children, but very few studies have examined links between perinatal maternal PTSS and infant outcomes. Trauma exposure and psychopathology, including PTSS, is often heightened for women during pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. Therefore, the perinatal period may be a critical time for understanding the risk maternal PTSS and other mental health factors pose to the socioemotional and physical health of infants. The present study explored the relation between maternal PTSS and infant socioemotional and physical health problems in a sample of racially and ethnically diverse mother-infant dyads (N = 295) assessed prenatally and at 12 months postpartum. This study also examined whether there are: (1) moderating effects of maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress on these associations and (2) indirect effects of PTSS on infant outcomes through observed maternal sensitivity. Results indicated that postpartum depressive symptoms and parenting stress, rather than PTSS, were associated with greater infant socioemotional health problems. However, prenatal PTSS were associated with greater infant physical health problems when mothers also reported clinically significant levels of postpartum depressive symptoms. Maternal sensitivity was not associated with maternal PTSS, depressive symptoms, or parenting stress, nor was it related to infant socioemotional and physical health; thus, maternal sensitivity was not tested as an intermediary mechanism linking maternal mental health with infant outcomes. Implications for promoting maternal mental health in the perinatal period to bolster socioemotional and physical health of infants are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Huffhines
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jesse L Coe
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Alex Busuito
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Ronald Seifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephanie H Parade
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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14
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Liu J, Liao M, Huang R, You Y, Lin X, Yang H, Fan L, Zhong Y, Li X, Li J, Xiao X. Perinatal Combinational Exposure to Bisphenol A and a High-Fat Diet Contributes to Transgenerational Dysregulation of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Systems in Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:834346. [PMID: 35281091 PMCID: PMC8908026 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.834346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Both bisphenol A (BPA) and high-fat diet (HFD) exert unfavorable effects on animals and humans; moreover, they could affect the health of their offspring. BPA and HFD often coexist in modern lifestyles; however, the long-term effects of simultaneous exposure of mothers to BPA and HFD during the perinatal period on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems of the offspring remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of simultaneous exposure of mothers to BPA and HFD on the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in offspring. Institute of Cancer Research female mice (F0) were exposed to BPA and fed with HFD before and during gestation until the end of lactation. F0 mice were mated with untreated males to produce the first generation (F1); subsequently, adult F1 males/females were mated with normal females/males to produce the second generation (F2). Combined maternal exposure to BPA and HFD caused myocardial hypertrophy and aortic tunica media thickening as well as increased the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and blood pressure in the matrilineal F2 generation. These cardiovascular changes might be associated with reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels. The patrilineal female F2 was more likely to be obese than the patrilineal male F2. Re-feeding with a HFD showed a more significant weight gain and reduced energy expenditure. However, the aforementioned effects were not observed with exposure to HFD or BPA alone during the perinatal period. Our findings suggest that perinatal combinational exposure to BPA and HFD could cause metabolic and cardiovascular disorders in the offspring, Further, our findings demonstrate that the synergistic effects of HFD and BPA could be transmitted to future generations in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Maolin Liao
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rongfeng Huang
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuehua You
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojing Lin
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Fan
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Zhong
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jibin Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Xiao
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoqiu Xiao,
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15
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Shchurevska OD. "SMALL BABY SYNDROME" AS A PREGNANCY-ASSOCITED GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME (REVIEW). WIADOMOSCI LEKARSKIE (WARSAW, POLAND : 1960) 2022; 75:2146-2151. [PMID: 36256944 DOI: 10.36740/wlek202209118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim: To analyze the current research literature devoted to the study of the mechanisms of the realization of stress factors during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The article presents an analysis and summarizes the literature devoted to the study of the mechanisms of the realization of stress factors during the pregnancy, the pathogenetic aspects of violations of the feto-placental complex, "critical periods of vulnerability", the long-term consequences of the transferred prenatal stress. CONCLUSION Conclusions: The paper summarizes that the condition of the mother and the feto-placental complex play an important role in many aspects of fetal development, that determine baby's physical and emotional health, personality formation in the future.
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16
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Carloni E, Ramos A, Hayes LN. Developmental Stressors Induce Innate Immune Memory in Microglia and Contribute to Disease Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13035. [PMID: 34884841 PMCID: PMC8657756 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many types of stressors have an impact on brain development, function, and disease susceptibility including immune stressors, psychosocial stressors, and exposure to drugs of abuse. We propose that these diverse developmental stressors may utilize a common mechanism that underlies impaired cognitive function and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and mood disorders that can develop in later life as a result of developmental stressors. While these stressors are directed at critical developmental windows, their impacts are long-lasting. Immune activation is a shared pathophysiology across several different developmental stressors and may thus be a targetable treatment to mitigate the later behavioral deficits. In this review, we explore different types of prenatal and perinatal stressors and their contribution to disease risk and underlying molecular mechanisms. We highlight the impact of developmental stressors on microglia biology because of their early infiltration into the brain, their critical role in brain development and function, and their long-lived status in the brain throughout life. Furthermore, we introduce innate immune memory as a potential underlying mechanism for developmental stressors' impact on disease. Finally, we highlight the molecular and epigenetic reprogramming that is known to underlie innate immune memory and explain how similar molecular mechanisms may be at work for cells to retain a long-term perturbation after exposure to developmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Carloni
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
| | - Adriana Ramos
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Lindsay N. Hayes
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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17
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Vassoler FM, Wimmer ME. Consequences of Parental Opioid Exposure on Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Health in the Next Generations. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:a040436. [PMID: 32601130 PMCID: PMC8485740 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a040436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Substance abuse and the ongoing opioid epidemic represents a large societal burden. This review will consider the long-term impact of opioid exposure on future generations. Prenatal, perinatal, and preconception exposure are reviewed with discussion of both maternal and paternal influences. Opioid exposure can have long-lasting effects on reproductive function, gametogenesis, and germline epigenetic programming, which can influence embryogenesis and alter the developmental trajectory of progeny. The potential mechanisms by which preconception maternal and paternal opioid exposure produce deleterious consequences on the health, behavior, and physiology of offspring that have been identified by clinical and animal studies will be discussed. The timing, nature, dosing, and duration of prenatal opioid exposure combined with other important environmental considerations influence the extent to which these manipulations affect parents and their progeny. Epigenetic inheritance refers to the transmission of environmental insults across generations via mechanisms independent of the DNA sequence. This topic will be further explored in the context of prenatal, perinatal, and preconception opioid exposure for both the maternal and paternal lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fair M Vassoler
- Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA
| | - Mathieu E Wimmer
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA
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18
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Blount AJ, Adams CR, Anderson-Berry AL, Hanson C, Schneider K, Pendyala G. Biopsychosocial Factors during the Perinatal Period: Risks, Preventative Factors, and Implications for Healthcare Professionals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8206. [PMID: 34360498 PMCID: PMC8346061 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18158206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Women face risks to their wellbeing during the perinatal period of pregnancy. However, there is a dearth of information on perinatal risk factors within the biopsychosocial paradigm. Emphasis is often placed on biological components associated with pregnancy and women's health. However, psychological and social determinants of health are integral during the perinatal period, and mental wellness is often a determinant for positive maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This article reviews risk factors of perinatal wellness (e.g., physical and nutritional concerns, trauma, discrimination, adverse childhood events) and highlights protective factors for women in their perinatal period. Healthcare professionals can support perinatal health by focusing on culturally and contextually appropriate research and prevention, providing equal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare information and services, providing quality education and training for helping professionals, and supporting policies for positive sexual and reproductive women's healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J. Blount
- Department of Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA; (C.R.A.); (K.S.)
| | - Charmayne R. Adams
- Department of Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA; (C.R.A.); (K.S.)
| | - Ann L. Anderson-Berry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Corrine Hanson
- Medical Nutrition Education Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Kara Schneider
- Department of Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA; (C.R.A.); (K.S.)
| | - Gurudutt Pendyala
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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19
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Rivera HE, Chen CY, Gibson MC, Tarrant AM. Plasticity in parental effects confers rapid larval thermal tolerance in the estuarine anemone Nematostella vectensis. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.236745. [PMID: 33547184 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Parental effects can prepare offspring for different environments and facilitate survival across generations. We exposed parental populations of the estuarine anemone, Nematostella vectensis, from Massachusetts to elevated temperatures and quantified larval mortality across a temperature gradient. We found that parental exposure to elevated temperatures resulted in a consistent increase in larval thermal tolerance, as measured by the temperature at which 50% of larvae die (LT50), with a mean increase in LT50 of 0.3°C. Larvae from subsequent spawns returned to baseline thermal thresholds when parents were returned to normal temperatures, indicating plasticity in these parental effects. Histological analyses of gametogenesis in females suggested that these dynamic shifts in larval thermal tolerance may be facilitated by maternal effects in non-overlapping gametic cohorts. We also compared larvae from North Carolina (a genetically distinct population with higher baseline thermal tolerance) and Massachusetts parents, and observed that larvae from heat-exposed Massachusetts parents had thermal thresholds comparable to those of larvae from unexposed North Carolina parents. North Carolina parents also increased larval thermal tolerance under the same high-temperature regime, suggesting that plasticity in parental effects is an inherent trait for N. vectensis Overall, we find that larval thermal tolerance in N. vectensis shows a strong genetic basis and can be modulated by parental effects. Further understanding of the mechanisms behind these shifts can elucidate the fate of thermally sensitive ectotherms in a rapidly changing thermal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanny E Rivera
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MIT-WHOI) Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Cambridge and Woods Hole, MA, USA .,Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 64110, USA
| | - Cheng-Yi Chen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Matthew C Gibson
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Ann M Tarrant
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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20
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Boyce WT, Levitt P, Martinez FD, McEwen BS, Shonkoff JP. Genes, Environments, and Time: The Biology of Adversity and Resilience. Pediatrics 2021; 147:peds.2020-1651. [PMID: 33495368 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-1651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposures to adverse environments, both psychosocial and physicochemical, are prevalent and consequential across a broad range of childhood populations. Such adversity, especially early in life, conveys measurable risk to learning and behavior and to the foundations of both mental and physical health. Using an interactive gene-environment-time (GET) framework, we survey the independent and interactive roles of genetic variation, environmental context, and developmental timing in light of advances in the biology of adversity and resilience, as well as new discoveries in biomedical research. Drawing on this rich evidence base, we identify 4 core concepts that provide a powerful catalyst for fresh thinking about primary health care for young children: (1) all biological systems are inextricably integrated, continuously "reading" and adapting to the environment and "talking back" to the brain and each other through highly regulated channels of cross-system communication; (2) adverse environmental exposures induce alterations in developmental trajectories that can lead to persistent disruptions of organ function and structure; (3) children vary in their sensitivity to context, and this variation is influenced by interactions among genetic factors, family and community environments, and developmental timing; and (4) critical or sensitive periods provide unmatched windows of opportunity for both positive and negative influences on multiple biological systems. These rapidly moving frontiers of investigation provide a powerful framework for new, science-informed thinking about health promotion and disease prevention in the early childhood period.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Thomas Boyce
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Pat Levitt
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Fernando D Martinez
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Bruce S McEwen
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.,Deceased
| | - Jack P Shonkoff
- Center on the Developing Child and .,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and.,Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and.,Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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21
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Shonkoff JP, Slopen N, Williams DR. Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Impacts of Racism on the Foundations of Health. Annu Rev Public Health 2021; 42:115-134. [PMID: 33497247 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-101940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Inequalities in health outcomes impose substantial human and economic costs on all societies-and the relation between early adversity and lifelong well-being presents a rich scientific framework for fresh thinking about health promotion and disease prevention broadly, augmented by a deeper focus on how racism influences disparities more specifically. This review begins with an overview of advances in the biology of adversity and resilience through an early childhood lens, followed by an overview of the unique effects of racism on health and a selective review of findings from related intervention research. This article presents a framework for addressing multiple dimensions of the public health challenge-including institutional/structural racism, cultural racism, and interpersonal discrimination-and concludes with the compelling need to protect the developing brain and other biological systems from the physiological disruptions of toxic stress that can undermine the building blocks of optimal health and development in the early childhood period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack P Shonkoff
- Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , , .,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Natalie Slopen
- Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , ,
| | - David R Williams
- Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , , .,Department of African and African American Studies and Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-3654, USA
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22
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Kenkel W. Birth signalling hormones and the developmental consequences of caesarean delivery. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12912. [PMID: 33145818 PMCID: PMC10590550 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rates of delivery by caesarean section (CS) are increasing around the globe and, although several epidemiological associations have already been observed between CS and health outcomes in later life, more are sure to be discovered as this practice continues to gain popularity. The components of vaginal delivery that protect offspring from the negative consequences of CS delivery in later life are currently unknown, although much attention to date has focused on differences in microbial colonisation. Here, we present the case that differing hormonal experiences at birth may also contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery. Levels of each of the 'birth signalling hormones' (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and the glucocorticoids) are lower following CS compared to vaginal delivery, and there is substantial evidence for each that manipulations in early life results in long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We draw from the research traditions of neuroendocrinology and developmental psychobiology to suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive period, during which hormones achieve organisational effects. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from research on developmental programming by early-life stress that may inform research on CS, as a result of shared neuroendocrine mechanisms at work. We compare and contrast the effects of early-life stress with those of CS delivery and propose new avenues of research based on the links between the two bodies of literature. The research conducted to date suggests that the differences in hormone signalling seen in CS neonates may produce long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kenkel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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23
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Rutkowska J, Lagisz M, Bonduriansky R, Nakagawa S. Mapping the past, present and future research landscape of paternal effects. BMC Biol 2020; 18:183. [PMID: 33246472 PMCID: PMC7694421 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although in all sexually reproducing organisms an individual has a mother and a father, non-genetic inheritance has been predominantly studied in mothers. Paternal effects have been far less frequently studied, until recently. In the last 5 years, research on environmentally induced paternal effects has grown rapidly in the number of publications and diversity of topics. Here, we provide an overview of this field using synthesis of evidence (systematic map) and influence (bibliometric analyses). RESULTS We find that motivations for studies into paternal effects are diverse. For example, from the ecological and evolutionary perspective, paternal effects are of interest as facilitators of response to environmental change and mediators of extended heredity. Medical researchers track how paternal pre-fertilization exposures to factors, such as diet or trauma, influence offspring health. Toxicologists look at the effects of toxins. We compare how these three research guilds design experiments in relation to objects of their studies: fathers, mothers and offspring. We highlight examples of research gaps, which, in turn, lead to future avenues of research. CONCLUSIONS The literature on paternal effects is large and disparate. Our study helps in fostering connections between areas of knowledge that develop in parallel, but which could benefit from the lateral transfer of concepts and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Rutkowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Cattaneo A, Suderman M, Cattane N, Mazzelli M, Begni V, Maj C, D'Aprile I, Pariante CM, Luoni A, Berry A, Wurst K, Hommers L, Domschke K, Cirulli F, Szyf M, Menke A, Riva MA. Long-term effects of stress early in life on microRNA-30a and its network: Preventive effects of lurasidone and potential implications for depression vulnerability. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100271. [PMID: 33344724 PMCID: PMC7739180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress can interfere with neurodevelopmental trajectories to increase the vulnerability for psychiatric disorders later in life. With this respect, epigenetic mechanisms play a key role for the long-lasting changes in brain functions that may elicit and sustain psychopathologic outcomes. Here, we investigated DNA methylation changes as possible epigenetic mechanism mediating the effect of prenatal stress (PNS), an experimental paradigm associated with behavioral and molecular alterations relevant for psychiatric disorders. We identified 138 genes as being differentially methylated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and in the hippocampus (HIP) of male and female adult rats exposed to PNS. Among these genes, miR-30a and Neurod1 emerged as potential players for the negative outcomes associated with PNS exposure. Indeed, in addition to showing consistent methylation differences in both brain regions and in both sexes, and interacting with each other, they are both involved in Axon guidance and Neurotrophin signaling, which are important to neurodevelopmental disorders. We also found a significant reduction in the expression of a panel of genes (CAMK2A, c-JUN, LIMK1, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, PIK3CA and PLCG1) that belong to these two biological pathways and are also validated targets of miR-30a, pointing to a down-regulation of these pathways as a consequence of PNS exposure. Interestingly, we also found that miR-30a levels were significantly upregulated in depressed patients exposed to childhood trauma, as compared to control individuals. Importantly, we also found that a sub-chronic treatment with the atypical antipsychotic drug, lurasidone, during adolescence was able to prevent the up-regulation of miR-30a and normalized the expression of its target genes in response to PNS exposure. Our results demonstrate that miR-30a undergoes epigenetic changes following early life stress exposure and suggest that this miRNA could play a key role in producing broad and long-lasting alterations in neuroplasticity-related pathways, contributing to the etiology of psychiatric disorders. MiR-30a and Neurod1 undergo epigenetic changes following PNS exposure. MiR-30 and Neurod1 are involved in Axon guidance and Neurotrophin signaling, two important pathways for neurodevelopment. We found lower expression levels of a panel of genes targeted by miR-30a. MiR-30a was significantly up-regulated in depressed patients exposed to childhood trauma. A chronic treatment with lurasidone during adolescence prevented the up-regulation of miR-30a following PNS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BSB 1TH, UK
| | - Nadia Cattane
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Monica Mazzelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Maj
- Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ilari D'Aprile
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Berry
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Katharina Wurst
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Leif Hommers
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler Promenade #1311, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6
| | - Andreas Menke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
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Baratta AM, Rathod RS, Plasil SL, Seth A, Homanics GE. Exposure to drugs of abuse induce effects that persist across generations. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 156:217-277. [PMID: 33461664 PMCID: PMC8167819 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders are highly prevalent and continue to be one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Notably, not all people who use addictive drugs develop a substance use disorder. Although substance use disorders are highly heritable, patterns of inheritance cannot be explained purely by Mendelian genetic mechanisms. Vulnerability to developing drug addiction depends on the interplay between genetics and environment. Additionally, evidence from the past decade has pointed to the role of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction. This emerging field focuses on how environmental perturbations, including exposure to addictive drugs, induce epigenetic modifications that are transmitted to the embryo at fertilization and modify developmental gene expression programs to ultimately impact subsequent generations. This chapter highlights intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes in offspring following a history of parental drug exposure. Special attention is paid to parental preconception exposure studies of five drugs of abuse (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, cannabinoids, and opiates) and associated behavioral and physiological outcomes in offspring. The highlighted studies demonstrate that parental exposure to drugs of abuse has enduring effects that persist into subsequent generations. Understanding the contribution of epigenetic inheritance in drug addiction may provide clues for better treatments and therapies for substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa M Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Richa S Rathod
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sonja L Plasil
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Amit Seth
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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26
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Thomson EM. Air Pollution, Stress, and Allostatic Load: Linking Systemic and Central Nervous System Impacts. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:597-614. [PMID: 31127781 PMCID: PMC6598002 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. A growing literature also links exposure to diverse air pollutants (e.g., nanoparticles, particulate matter, ozone, traffic-related air pollution) with brain health, including increased incidence of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as cognitive decline, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), anxiety, depression, and suicide. A critical gap in our understanding of adverse impacts of pollutants on the central nervous system (CNS) is the early initiating events triggered by pollutant inhalation that contribute to disease progression. Recent experimental evidence has shown that particulate matter and ozone, two common pollutants with differing characteristics and reactivity, can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and release glucocorticoid stress hormones (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) as part of a neuroendocrine stress response. The brain is highly sensitive to stress: stress hormones affect cognition and mental health, and chronic stress can produce profound biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Chronic activation and/or dysfunction of the HPA axis also increases the burden on physiological stress response systems, conceptualized as allostatic load, and is a common pathway implicated in many diseases. The present paper provides an overview of how systemic stress-dependent biological responses common to particulate matter and ozone may provide insight into early CNS effects of pollutants, including links with oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic processes. Evidence of pollutant effect modification by non-chemical stressors (e.g., socioeconomic position, psychosocial, noise), age (prenatal to elderly), and sex will also be reviewed in the context of susceptibility across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Errol M Thomson
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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27
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Cissé YM, Chan JC, Nugent BM, Banducci C, Bale TL. Brain and placental transcriptional responses as a readout of maternal and paternal preconception stress are fetal sex specific. Placenta 2020; 100:164-170. [PMID: 32980048 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite a wealth of epidemiological evidence that cumulative parental lifetime stress experiences prior to conception are determinant of offspring developmental trajectories, there is a lack of insight on how these previous stress experiences are stored and communicated intergenerationally. Preconception experiences may impact offspring development through alterations in transcriptional regulation of the placenta, a major determinant of offspring growth and sex-specific developmental outcomes. We evaluated the lasting influence of maternal and paternal preconception stress (PCS) on the mid-gestation placenta and fetal brain, utilizing their transcriptomes as proximate readouts of intergenerational impact. METHODS To assess the combined vs. dominant influence of maternal and paternal preconception environment on sex-specific fetal development, we compared transcriptional outcomes using a breeding scheme of one stressed parent, both stressed parents, or no stressed parents as controls. RESULTS Interestingly, offspring sex affected the directionality of transcriptional changes in response to PCS, where male tissues showed a predominant downregulation, and female tissues showed an upregulation. There was also an intriguing effect of parental sex on placental programming where paternal PCS drove more effects in female placentas, while maternal PCS produced more transcriptional changes in male placentas. However, in the fetal brain, maternal PCS produced overall more changes in gene expression than paternal PCS, supporting the idea that the intrauterine environment may have a larger overall influence on the developing brain than it does on shaping the placenta. DISCUSSION Preconception experiences drive changes in the placental and the fetal brain transcriptome at a critical developmental timepoint. While not determinant, these altered transcriptional states may underlie sex-biased risk or resilience to stressful experiences later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine M Cissé
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Jennifer C Chan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Bridget M Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Caitlin Banducci
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
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28
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Tyebji S, Hannan AJ, Tonkin CJ. Pathogenic Infection in Male Mice Changes Sperm Small RNA Profiles and Transgenerationally Alters Offspring Behavior. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107573. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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29
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Post RM, Altshuler LL, Kupka R, McElroy SL, Frye MA, Rowe M, Grunze H, Suppes T, Keck PE, Nolen WA. More assortative mating in US compared to European parents and spouses of patients with bipolar disorder: implications for psychiatric illness in the offspring. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 270:237-245. [PMID: 30099616 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-018-0934-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The effect of assortative mating on offspring is often not considered. Here, we present data on illness in the spouse and the parents of patients with bipolar disorder as they affect illness in the offspring. A history of psychiatric illness (depression, bipolar disorder, suicide attempt, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and "other" illness) was elicited for the parents, spouse, and the offspring of 968 patients with bipolar disorder (540 of whom had children) who gave informed consent for participation in a treatment outcome network. Assortative mating for a mood disorder in the spouse and parents in those from the United States (US) was compared to those from the Netherlands and Germany and related to illnesses in the offspring. There was more illness and assortative mating for a mood disorder in both the spouse and patient's parents from the US compared to Europe. In the parents of the US patients, assortative mating for a mood disorder was associated with more depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol, and "other" illness in the offspring. Compared to the Europeans, there was more assortative mating for mood and other disorders in two generations of those from the US. This bilineal positivity for a parental mood disorder was related to more depression a second generation later in the patients' offspring. In clinical assessment of risk of illness in the offspring, the history of psychiatric illness in the spouse and patient's parents might provide additional information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Post
- Bipolar Collaborative Network, 5415 W. Cedar Lane
Suite 201-B, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Lori L Altshuler
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ralph Kupka
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan L McElroy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Lindner Center of HOPE, Mason, OH, USA
| | - Mark A Frye
- Department of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Michael Rowe
- Bipolar Collaborative Network, 5415 W. Cedar Lane
Suite 201-B, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Heinz Grunze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Trisha Suppes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- V.A. Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Paul E Keck
- Lindner Center of HOPE, Mason, OH, USA
- Biological Psychiatry Program, University of Cincinnati Medical College, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Willem A Nolen
- University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Schiele MA, Gottschalk MG, Domschke K. The applied implications of epigenetics in anxiety, affective and stress-related disorders - A review and synthesis on psychosocial stress, psychotherapy and prevention. Clin Psychol Rev 2020; 77:101830. [PMID: 32163803 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mental disorders are highly complex and multifactorial in origin, comprising an elaborate interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA modifications (e.g. CpG methylation), histone modifications (e.g. acetylation) and microRNAs function as a translator between genes and the environment. Indeed, environmental influences such as exposure to stress shape epigenetic patterns, and lifetime experiences continue to alter the function of the genome throughout the lifespan. Here, we summarize the recently burgeoning body of research regarding the involvement of aberrant epigenetic signatures in mediating an increased vulnerability to a wide range of mental disorders. We review the current knowledge of epigenetic changes to constitute useful markers predicting the clinical response to psychotherapeutic interventions, and of psychotherapy to alter - and potentially reverse - epigenetic risk patterns. Given first evidence pointing to a transgenerational transmission of epigenetic information, epigenetic alterations arising from successful psychotherapy might be transferred to future generations and thus contribute to the prevention of mental disorders. Findings are integrated into a multi-level framework highlighting challenges pertaining to the mechanisms of action and clinical implications of epigenetic research. Promising future directions regarding the prediction, prevention, and personalized treatment of mental disorders in line with a 'precision medicine' approach are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael G Gottschalk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
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31
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González CR, González B. Exploring the Stress Impact in the Paternal Germ Cells Epigenome: Can Catecholamines Induce Epigenetic Reprogramming? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:630948. [PMID: 33679612 PMCID: PMC7933579 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.630948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is characterized by unique epigenetic programs that enable chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation for proper meiotic divisions and germ cells maturation. Paternal lifestyle stressors such as diet, drug abuse, or psychological trauma can directly impact the germ cell epigenome and transmit phenotypes to the next generation, pointing to the importance of epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis. It is established that environmental perturbations can affect the development and behavior of the offspring through epigenetic inheritance, including changes in small non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histones post-translational modifications. But how male germ cells react to lifestyle stressors and encode them in the paternal epigenome is still a research gap. Most lifestyle stressors activate catecholamine circuits leading to both acute and long-term changes in neural functions, and epigenetic mechanisms show strong links to both long-term and rapid, dynamic gene expression regulation during stress. Importantly, the testis shares a molecular and transcriptional signature with the brain tissue, including a rich expression of catecholaminergic elements in germ cells that seem to respond to stressors with similar epigenetic and transcriptional profiles. In this minireview, we put on stage the action of catecholamines as possible mediators between paternal stress responses and epigenetic marks alterations during spermatogenesis. Understanding the epigenetic regulation in spermatogenesis will contribute to unravel the coding mechanisms in the transmission of the biological impacts of stress between generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela R. González
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Betina González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Betina González,
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Antenatal corticosteroid administration is associated with decreased growth of the fetal thymus: a prospective cohort study. J Perinatol 2020; 40:30-38. [PMID: 31748655 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-019-0554-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of antenatal corticosteroid administration (ACS) on fetal thymus growth in women who received ACS compared with gestational-age-matched controls. STUDY DESIGN Fetal thymus size and growth were measured in women at risk for preterm delivery who received ACS and compared with a matched cohort of women who were at low risk for preterm delivery and did not receive ACS. Fetal thymus perimeter and diameter were measured by 2-D ultrasound at baseline and every 2 weeks until delivery. RESULTS After adjusting for confounders, ACS exposure was associated with a significant reduction in thymus perimeter size (-0.70; 95% CI: -1.33, -0.07; P = 0.03). For every additional week of exposure, thymus growth trajectory was significantly decreased in ACS-exposed fetuses (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION The association between ACS and reduced fetal thymus growth should be further examined to establish the impact of ACS on childhood thymus development and immune programming.
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Cunningham AM, Walker DM, Nestler EJ. Paternal transgenerational epigenetic mechanisms mediating stress phenotypes of offspring. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 53:271-280. [PMID: 31549423 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Depression and anxiety risk are highly influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Recently, it has been proposed that epigenetic mechanisms may also contribute to the transmission of both depression- and anxiety-related behaviors across multiple generations. This review highlights long-lasting epigenetic alterations observed in offspring of fathers, including some distinct effects on male and female offspring, in animal models. Available evidence emphasizes how both the developmental time point and the type of paternal stress (social vs. asocial) influence the complex transmission patterns of these phenotypes to future generations. This research is critical in understanding the factors that influence risk for depression and anxiety disorders and has the potential to contribute to the development of innovative treatments that can more precisely target vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Cunningham
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deena M Walker
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Reid S, Katan A, Ellithy A, Della Stua R, Denisov EV. The Perfect Storm: Mapping the Life Course Trajectories of Serial Killers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2019; 63:1621-1662. [PMID: 30924386 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x19838683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1970s, scholars have produced a large body of research attempting to establish the mechanisms by which sexual serial killers come to arrive at a life of repeat fatal violence. From the standpoint of developmental psychology, however, the explanations offered are far too limited in scope. Human development is the product of complex reciprocal transactions that occur between an individual and their environment throughout their life span. This present study is meant to encourage a critical reconsideration of past knowledge (mainly static traits) in favor of the recognition of the complexity of human development. Using life span developmental psychology as a guiding framework, this study traces the developmental mechanisms that come together to shape the psychopathology that drives the motivations of sexual serial killers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Reid
- 1 University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 2 University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Egor V Denisov
- 4 National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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35
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Influence of maternal protein malnutrition on oxidative stress and regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis in female rat hearts over succeeding generations. Life Sci 2019; 232:116579. [PMID: 31252001 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We sought to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction (LP) on oxidative balance and transcription factors for mitochondrial biogenesis in the hearts of young female rats of both the first (F1) and second (F2) generation. MAIN METHODS We evaluated oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation), enzymatic antioxidant defense (activity of superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase-GST), nonenzymatic antioxidant defense (reduced glutathione-GSH and sulfhydryl groups) and gene expression of AMPK, PGC-1α and TFAM. KEY FINDINGS Interestingly, lipid peroxidation was decreased (49%, p < 0.001) in the LP-F1 group and 59% (p < 0.001) in LP-F2. In enzymatic defense, we observed increases in SOD activity in the LP-F1 group (79%, p = 0.036) and in CAT activity (approximately 40%, p = 0.041). GSH was increased in F2 in both groups (LP 546%, p < 0.0001 and in NP 491.7%, p < 0.0001). With respect to mitochondrial biogenesis gene transcription, we observed a decrease in AMPK (60%, p < 0. 0001) and an increase in PGC-1α (340%, p < 0.001) in LP compared to NP in the F1 generation. TFAM was decreased in LP-F2L compared to NP-F2L (42%, p = 0.0069) and increased in LP-F2 compared to LP-F1 (160%, p = 0.0037). SIGNIFICANCE Our study contributes to knowledge of inheritance, showing that despite the potential mitochondrial 'inheritance' of cardiovascular damage caused by maternal malnutrition, that damage is not cross-generational and can be eliminated with proper nutrition in the F1 generation.
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DeSocio JE. Reprint of "Epigenetics, maternal prenatal psychosocial stress, and infant mental health". Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2019; 33:232-237. [PMID: 31227075 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper provides a summary of literature on epigenetic effects and infant health outcomes of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy. A search of literature yielded a large body of publications between 2008 and 2018. Relevant articles were selected, and additional sources were located from ancestry searches of reference lists. Results implicate maternal prenatal stress as a source of epigenetic mechanisms that affect fetal brain development and program risk for emotional dysregulation and mental disorders over a lifetime and across generations. Implications for nursing practice are explored at multiple levels of policy advocacy, public education, primary prevention, screening and intervention.
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37
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Genetic risk factors and gene–environment interactions in adult and childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatr Genet 2019; 29:63-78. [DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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38
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Susceptibility or Resilience to Maltreatment Can Be Explained by Specific Differences in Brain Network Architecture. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:690-702. [PMID: 30528381 PMCID: PMC6440838 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for psychopathology. However, some maltreated individuals appear remarkably resilient to the psychiatric effects while manifesting the same array of brain abnormalities as maltreated individuals with psychopathology. Hence, a critical aim is to identify compensatory brain alterations that enable resilient individuals to maintain mental well-being despite alterations in stress-susceptible regions. METHODS Network models were constructed from diffusion tensor imaging and tractography in physically healthy unmedicated 18- to 25-year-old participants (N = 342, n = 192 maltreated) to develop network-based explanatory models. RESULTS First, we determined that susceptible and resilient individuals had the same alterations in global fiber stream network architecture using two different definitions of resilience: 1) no lifetime history of Axis I or II disorders, and 2) no clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger-hostility, or somatization. Second, we confirmed an a priori hypothesis that right amygdala nodal efficiency was lower in asymptomatic resilient than in susceptible participants or control subjects. Third, we identified eight other nodes with reduced nodal efficiency in resilient individuals and showed that nodal efficiency moderated the relationship between maltreatment and psychopathology. Fourth, we found that models based on global network architecture and nodal efficiency could delineate group membership (control, susceptible, resilient) with 75%, 82%, and 80% cross-validated accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Together these findings suggest that sparse fiber networks with increased small-worldness following maltreatment render individuals vulnerable to psychopathology if abnormalities occur in specific nodes, but that decreased ability of certain nodes to propagate information throughout the network mitigates the effects and leads to resilience.
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Reshetnikov VV, Kovner AV, Lepeshko AA, Pavlov KS, Grinkevich LN, Bondar NP. Stress early in life leads to cognitive impairments, reduced numbers of CA3 neurons and altered maternal behavior in adult female mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 19:e12541. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliy V. Reshetnikov
- Laboratory of Gene Expression RegulationInstitute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Anna V. Kovner
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Pathological ProcessesInstitute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Arina A. Lepeshko
- Laboratory of Gene Expression RegulationInstitute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
- Novosibirsk National Research State University Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Konstantin S. Pavlov
- Laboratory of Experimental Models of Emotional PathologiesInstitute of Physiology and Basic Medicine Novosibirsk Russia
| | - Larisa N. Grinkevich
- Laboratory of Regulation of Functions of Brain NeuronsPavlov Institute of Physiology, RAS St. Petersburg Russia
| | - Natalya P. Bondar
- Laboratory of Gene Expression RegulationInstitute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) Novosibirsk Russia
- Novosibirsk National Research State University Novosibirsk Russia
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DeSocio JE. Epigenetics, maternal prenatal psychosocial stress, and infant mental health. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2018; 32:901-906. [PMID: 30454636 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides a summary of literature on epigenetic effects and infant health outcomes of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy. A search of literature yielded a large body of publications between 2008 and 2018. Relevant articles were selected, and additional sources were located from ancestry searches of reference lists. Results implicate maternal prenatal stress as a source of epigenetic mechanisms that affect fetal brain development and program risk for emotional dysregulation and mental disorders over a lifetime and across generations. Implications for nursing practice are explored at multiple levels of policy advocacy, public education, primary prevention, screening and intervention.
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41
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Watamura SE, Roth TL. Looking back and moving forward: Evaluating and advancing translation from animal models to human studies of early life stress and DNA methylation. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 61:323-340. [PMID: 30426484 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in epigenetic methodologies have deepened theoretical explanations of mechanisms linking early life stress (ELS) and disease outcomes and suggest promising targets for intervention. To date, however, human studies have not capitalized on the richness of diverse animal models to derive and systematically evaluate specific and testable hypotheses. To promote cross-species dialog and scientific advance, here we provide a classification scheme to systematically evaluate the match between characteristics of human and animal studies of ELS and DNA methylation. Three preclinical models were selected that are highly cited, and that differ in the nature and severity of the ELS manipulation as well as in the affected epigenetic loci (the licking and grooming, maternal separation, and caregiver maltreatment models). We evaluated the degree to which human studies matched these preclinical models with respect to the timing of ELS and of DNA methylation assessment, as well as the type of ELS, whether sex differences were explicitly examined, the tissue sampled, and the targeted loci. Results revealed <50% match (range of 8-83%) between preclinical models and human work on these variables. Immediate and longer-term suggestions to improve translational specificity are offered, with the goal of accelerating scientific advance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tania L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
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Prenatal stress and the development of psychopathology: Lifestyle behaviors as a fundamental part of the puzzle. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:1129-1144. [PMID: 30068418 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579418000494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychological stress, depression, and anxiety during pregnancy (prenatal stress; PNS) are thought to impact fetal development with long-term effects on offspring outcome. These effects would include physical and mental health, including psychopathology. Maternal sleep, diet, and exercise during pregnancy are lifestyle behaviors that are understudied and often solely included in PNS studies as confounders. However, there are indications that these lifestyle behaviors may actually constitute essential mediators between PNS and fetal programming processes. The goal of this theoretical review was to investigate this idea by looking at the evidence for associations between PNS and sleep, diet, and exercise, and by piecing together the information on potential underlying mechanisms and causal pathways through which these factors may affect the offspring. The analysis of the literature led to the conclusion that sleep, diet, and exercise during pregnancy, may have fundamental roles as mediators between PNS and maternal pregnancy physiology. By integrating these lifestyle behaviors into models of prenatal programming of development, a qualitatively higher and more comprehensive understanding of the prenatal origins of psychopathology can be obtained. The review finalizes by discussing some of the present challenges facing the field of PNS and offspring programming, and offering solutions for future research.
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Yehuda R, Lehrner A. Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry 2018; 17:243-257. [PMID: 30192087 PMCID: PMC6127768 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reviews the research evidence concerning the intergenerational transmission of trauma effects and the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms in this transmission. Two broad categories of epigenetically mediated effects are highlighted. The first involves developmentally programmed effects. These can result from the influence of the offspring's early environmental exposures, including postnatal maternal care as well as in utero exposure reflecting maternal stress during pregnancy. The second includes epigenetic changes associated with a preconception trauma in parents that may affect the germline, and impact fetoplacental interactions. Several factors, such as sex-specific epigenetic effects following trauma exposure and parental developmental stage at the time of exposure, explain different effects of maternal and paternal trauma. The most compelling work to date has been done in animal models, where the opportunity for controlled designs enables clear interpretations of transmissible effects. Given the paucity of human studies and the methodological challenges in conducting such studies, it is not possible to attribute intergenerational effects in humans to a single set of biological or other determinants at this time. Elucidating the role of epigenetic mechanisms in intergenerational effects through prospective, multi-generational studies may ultimately yield a cogent understanding of how individual, cultural and societal experiences permeate our biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Yehuda
- James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amy Lehrner
- James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
AbstractThe question of whether and how the effects of cultural trauma can be transmitted intergenerationally from parents to offspring, or even to later generations, has evoked interest and controversy in academic and popular forums. Recent methodological advances have spurred investigations of potential epigenetic mechanisms for this inheritance, representing an exciting area of emergent research. Epigenetics has been described as the means through which environmental influences “get under the skin,” directing transcriptional activity and influencing the expression or suppression of genes. Over the past decade, this complex environment–biology interface has shown increasing promise as a potential pathway for the intergenerational transmission of the effects of trauma. This article reviews challenges facing research on cultural trauma, biological findings in trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder, and putative epigenetic mechanisms for transmission of trauma effects, including through social, intrauterine, and gametic pathways. Implications for transmission of cultural trauma effects are discussed, focused on the relevance of cultural narratives and the possibilities of resilience and adaptivity.
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On the Developmental Timing of Stress: Delineating Sex-Specific Effects of Stress across Development on Adult Behavior. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8070121. [PMID: 29966252 PMCID: PMC6071226 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8070121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress, and the chronic overactivation of major stress hormones, is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, clinical literature on the exact role of stress either as a causative, triggering, or modulatory factor to mental illness remains unclear. We suggest that the impact of stress on the brain and behavior is heavily dependent on the developmental timing at which the stress has occurred, and as such, this may contribute to the overall variability reported on the association of stress and mental illness. Here, animal models provide a way to comprehensively assess the temporal impact of stress on behavior in a controlled manner. This review particularly focuses on the long-term impact of stress on behavior in various rodent stress models at three major developmental time points: early life, adolescence, and adulthood. We characterize the various stressor paradigms into physical, social, and pharmacological, and discuss commonalities and differences observed across these various stress-inducing methods. In addition, we discuss here how sex can influence the impact of stress at various developmental time points. We conclude here that early postnatal life and adolescence represent particular periods of vulnerability, but that stress exposure during early life can sometimes lead to resilience, particularly to fear-potentiated memories. In the adult brain, while shorter periods of stress tended to enhance spatial memory, longer periods caused impairments. Overall, males tended to be more vulnerable to the long-term effects of early life and adolescent stress, albeit very few studies incorporate both sexes, and further well-powered sex comparisons are needed.
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Harker A, Carroll C, Raza S, Kolb B, Gibb R. Preconception Paternal Stress in Rats Alters Brain and Behavior in Offspring. Neuroscience 2018; 388:474-485. [PMID: 29964157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Whereas environmental challenges during gestation have been repeatedly shown to alter offspring brain architecture and behavior, exploration examining the consequences of paternal preconception experience on offspring outcome is limited. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of preconception paternal stress (PPS) on cerebral plasticity and behavior in the offspring. Several behavioral assays were performed on offspring between postnatal days 33 (P33) and 101 (P101). Following behavioral testing, the brains were harvested and dendritic morphology (dendritic complexity, length, and spine density) were examined on cortical pyramidal cells in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), orbital frontal cortex (OFC), parietal cortex (Par1), and the CA1 area of the hippocampus. As anticipated, behavior was altered on both the activity box assay and elevated plus maze and performance was impaired in the Whishaw tray reaching task. Neuroanatomical measures revealed a heavier brain in stressed animals and dendritic changes in all regions measured, the precise effect varying with the measure and cerebral region. Thus, PPS impacted both behavior and neuronal morphology of offspring. These effects likely have an epigenetic basis given that in a parallel study of littermates of the current animals we found extensive epigenetic changes at P21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allonna Harker
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
| | - Cathy Carroll
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
| | - Sarah Raza
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Bryan Kolb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Robbin Gibb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
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Mejia-Lancheros C, Mehegan J, Segurado R, Murrin C, Kelleher C. Parental population exposure to historical socioeconomic and political periods and grand-child's birth weight in the Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort Study in the Republic of Ireland. SSM Popul Health 2018; 4:100-116. [PMID: 29349279 PMCID: PMC5769097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to deprived socioeconomic conditions during the peri-conception and early childhood periods can have a negative long-term impact on individuals' health and that of their progeny. We aimed to examine whether relatives' birth period affected index-child (grand-child) birthweight status in the Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort in the Republic of Ireland. Participants were 943 mothers and offspring, 890 fathers, 938 maternal grandmothers (MGM), 700 maternal grandfathers (MGF) 537 paternal grandmothers (PGM) and 553 paternal grandfathers (PGF). Index-child's birthweight was sex-for-gestational age standardised (UK1990 population), and then classified into low birthweight (≤10th percentile) and high-birthweight (≥90th percentile) and compared against normal-birthweight (>10th to <90th percentiles). Four adult birth periods were considered: The Free State (FS, 1916-1938); Emergency Act (EA, 1939-1946); Post-World War-II Baby-Boom (PWWII-BB, 1947-1964); and Modern Ireland (MI, 1964 onwards). Logistic regression was used to assess the crude and adjusted relationship between index-child's birthweight status and relatives' birth periods. Overall, there were 8.7% (n=82) index-children in the low-birthweight category, 77.9% (n=735) and 13.4% (n=126) within the normal and high birthweight groups respectively. Index-children whose mothers were born during the PWWII-BB had higher birthweight infants (Crude OR(COR)=1.81 (1.08-3.03) which remained the case only for male index-children when adjusted for co-variables (Adjusted OR(AOR)=4.61(1.71-12.42)). Parents' combined PWWII-BB birth period was positively associated with male index-child higher birthweight, even adjusted for maternal characteristics (AOR=4.60(1.69-12.50)). MGFs born during the EA were more likely to have grandchildren with low birthweight after adjustment for maternal characteristics (AOR=2.45(1.03-5.85)), particularly for female index-children (AOR=4.74(1.16-19.25)). Both PGMs and PGFs born during the FS period had higher birthweight grandchildren, adjusted for maternal-related co-variables (PGM, AOR=3.23(1.21-8.63); PGF, AOR=3.93(1.11-13.96)), with the effect of PGM more evident in her granddaughter (AOR=6.53(1.25-34.04)). In conclusion, there is some evidence that period of grandparental birth is associated with their grandchildren's birthweights, suggesting that transgenerational exposures may be particular to historical context, meriting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cilia Mejia-Lancheros
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Woodview House, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
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48
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Sharpe RM. Programmed for sex: Nutrition–reproduction relationships from an inter-generational perspective. Reproduction 2018; 155:S1-S16. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is our biological reason for being. Our physiology has been shaped via countless millennia of evolution with this one purpose in mind, so that at birth we are ‘programmed for sex’, although this will not kick-start functionally until puberty. Our development from an early embryo is focused on making us fit to reproduce and is intimately connected to nutrition and energy stores. Fluctuations in food supply has probably been a key evolutionary shaper of the reproductive process, and this review hypothesizes that we have developed rapid, non-genomic adaptive mechanisms to such fluctuations to better fit offspring to their perceived (nutritional) environment, thus giving them a reproductive advantage. There is abundant evidence for this notion from ‘fetal programming’ studies and from experimental ‘inter-generational’ studies involving manipulation of parental (especially paternal) diet and then examining metabolic changes in resulting offspring. It is argued that the epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells that occurs during fetal life, after fertilisation and during gametogenesis provides opportunities for sensing of the (nutritional) environment so as to affect adaptive epigenetic changes to alter offspring metabolic function. In this regard, there may be adverse effects of a modern Western diet, perhaps because it is deficient in plant-derived factors that are proven to be capable of altering the epigenome, folate being a prime example; we have evolved in tune with such factors. Therefore, parental and even grandparental diets may have consequences for health of future generations, but how important this might be and the precise epigenetic mechanisms involved are unknown.
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Lee SW, Yoo JH, Kim KW, Kim D, Park H, Choi J, Teicher MH, Jeong B. Hippocampal Subfields Volume Reduction in High Schoolers with Previous Verbal Abuse Experiences. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2018; 16:46-56. [PMID: 29397666 PMCID: PMC5810448 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2018.16.1.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective Reduced hippocampal volume and alterations in white matter tracts have been frequently reported in adults having the history of emotional maltreatment. We investigated whether these structural change occur in adolescents with previous verbal abuse (VA) experiences. Methods Hippocampal subfield volume and white matter structural connectivity measures were assessed in 31 first year male high school students with various degrees of exposure to parental and peer VA. Results The high VA group showed significant volume reduction in the left cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and left subiculum compared to the low VA group (p<0.05). Volumes of left hippocampal subfields CA1 and subiculum were negatively correlated with previous VA experiences (p<0.05). Increased mean diffusivity (MD) of the splenium of the corpus callosum was related to high VA score across all subjects (p<0.05). There was an inverse relationship between volume of the CA1 and subiculum and MD of the splenium (p<0.05). Conclusion Exposure to parental and peer VA may affect development of the left hippocampal subfields and the splenium of corpus callosum. These structural alterations can be discernible during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Won Lee
- Computational Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jae Hyun Yoo
- Computational Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ko Woon Kim
- Computational Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Dongchan Kim
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
| | - HyunWook Park
- Department of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jeewook Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Martin H Teicher
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Bumseok Jeong
- Computational Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.,KAIST Institute for Health Science and Technology, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
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50
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Abstract
Anxiety disorders constitute the largest group of mental disorders in most western societies and are a leading cause of disability. The essential features of anxiety disorders are excessive and enduring fear, anxiety or avoidance of perceived threats, and can also include panic attacks. Although the neurobiology of individual anxiety disorders is largely unknown, some generalizations have been identified for most disorders, such as alterations in the limbic system, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and genetic factors. In addition, general risk factors for anxiety disorders include female sex and a family history of anxiety, although disorder-specific risk factors have also been identified. The diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders varies for the individual disorders, but are generally similar across the two most common classification systems: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Despite their public health significance, the vast majority of anxiety disorders remain undetected and untreated by health care systems, even in economically advanced countries. If untreated, these disorders are usually chronic with waxing and waning symptoms. Impairments associated with anxiety disorders range from limitations in role functioning to severe disabilities, such as the patient being unable to leave their home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Thalia C Eley
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charleston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ronald M Rapee
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Science, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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