Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Poor social support during pregnancy has been linked to inflammation and adverse pregnancy and childhood health outcomes. Placental epigenetic alterations may underlie these links but are still unknown in humans. METHODS: In a cohort of low-risk pregnant women (n = 301) from diverse ethnic backgrounds, social support was measured using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory (ESSI) during the first trimester. Placental samples collected at delivery were analyzed for DNA methylation and gene expression using Illumina 450K Beadchip Array and RNA-seq, respectively. We examined association between maternal prenatal social support and DNA methylation in placenta. Associated cytosine-(phosphate)-guanine sites (CpGs) were further assessed for correlation with nearby gene expression in placenta. RESULTS: < 0.05), genes known to be involved in neurodevelopment and energy metabolism. The genes annotated with the top 100 CpGs were enriched for pathways related to fetal growth, coagulation system, energy metabolism, and neurodevelopment. Sex-stratified analysis identified additional significant associations at nine CpGs in male-bearing pregnancies and 35 CpGs in female-bearing pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that prenatal social support is linked to placental DNA methylation changes in a low-stress setting, including fetal sex-dependent epigenetic changes. Given the relevance of some of these changes in fetal neurodevelopmental outcomes, the findings signal important methylation targets for future research on molecular mechanisms of effect of the broader social environment on pregnancy and fetal outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00912132 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ).
Source: BMC Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
Funders: Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, University of South Carolina, Rockefeller University, National Institutes of Health, University of California, Irvine, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH Office of the Director, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1166402150, G1254978386, G1717420872, G2039955566, G2553680071, G3114478786, G3160321708, Sensory Science and Metabolism; Molecular and Neuronal Mechanisms, G380434283, G3947709714, G4266520626, G4438060335, G4831972019, G5253680757, G5321719769, G588696285, G6151197869, G6286458469, G6293434610, G6316303174, G6363336532, G6844602947, G694054410, G7339608600, G7469155576, G7669874192, G7820179066, G7885016478, G8115270490, G8970881683, G9000001151
OpenAlex ID: W4313788849