Cord blood DNA methylation modifications in infants are associated with white matter microstructure in the context of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety

Douglas C. Dean; Andy Madrid; Elizabeth M. Planalp; Jason F. Moody; Ligia A. Papale; Karla M. Knobel; Elizabeth K. Wood; Ryan M. McAdams; Christopher L. Coe; H. Hill Goldsmith; Richard J. Davidson; Reid S. Alisch; Pamela J. Kling

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-91642-0

Scientific Reports (Jun 2021)

Cord blood DNA methylation modifications in infants are associated with white matter microstructure in the context of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety

Douglas C. Dean,
Andy Madrid,
Elizabeth M. Planalp,
Jason F. Moody,
Ligia A. Papale,
Karla M. Knobel,
Elizabeth K. Wood,
Ryan M. McAdams,
Christopher L. Coe,
H. Hill Goldsmith,
Richard J. Davidson,
Reid S. Alisch,
Pamela J. Kling

Affiliations

Douglas C. Dean: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Andy Madrid: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Elizabeth M. Planalp: Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jason F. Moody: Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ligia A. Papale: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Karla M. Knobel: Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Elizabeth K. Wood: Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ryan M. McAdams: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Christopher L. Coe: Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
H. Hill Goldsmith: Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Richard J. Davidson: Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Reid S. Alisch: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Pamela J. Kling: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91642-0
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Maternal and environmental factors influence brain networks and architecture via both physiological pathways and epigenetic modifications. In particular, prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms appear to impact infant white matter (WM) microstructure, leading us to investigate whether epigenetic modifications (i.e., DNA methylation) contribute to these WM differences. To determine if infants of women with depression and anxiety symptoms exhibit epigenetic modifications linked to neurodevelopmental changes, 52 umbilical cord bloods (CBs) were profiled. We observed 219 differentially methylated genomic positions (DMPs; FDR p 0.5), which were annotated to 98 and 81 genes, respectively. Together, these findings suggest that umbilical CB DNA methylation levels at birth are associated with 1-month WM microstructure.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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