Background: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a collective trauma that may have enduring stress effects during sensitive periods, such as pregnancy. Prenatal stress may result in epigenetic signatures of stress-related genes (e.g., the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) that may in turn influence infants’ behavioral development. Methods: In April 2020, we launched a longitudinal cohort study to assess the behavioral and epigenetic vestiges of COVID-19-related prenatal stress exposure in mothers and infants. COVID-19-related prenatal stress was retrospectively assessed at birth. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed in infants’ buccal cells. Infants’ temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Results: Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants’ SLC6A4 methylation (RR =.07, p =.007, B =.16 [.05;.29]). SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants’ temperament at 3 months (RR =.05, p =.027, B = -.45 [-.92;-.06]). Conclusion: Indirect effects of the pandemic may alter the trajectories of behavioral development infants. Appropriate prevention and care acts need to be adopted by healthcare systems.
The hidden pandemic: COVID-19-related stress, SLC6A4 methylation, and infants' temperament at 3 months / L., P., F., M., M., V., S., G., A., C., E., B., Biasucci, G., L., D., R., F., B., G., R., L., R., N., C., P., F., P., S., O., B., S., R., G., R., B.. - In: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0306-4530. - 131:S1-35(2021).
The hidden pandemic: COVID-19-related stress, SLC6A4 methylation, and infants' temperament at 3 months
Biasucci G;
2021-01-01
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a collective trauma that may have enduring stress effects during sensitive periods, such as pregnancy. Prenatal stress may result in epigenetic signatures of stress-related genes (e.g., the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) that may in turn influence infants’ behavioral development. Methods: In April 2020, we launched a longitudinal cohort study to assess the behavioral and epigenetic vestiges of COVID-19-related prenatal stress exposure in mothers and infants. COVID-19-related prenatal stress was retrospectively assessed at birth. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed in infants’ buccal cells. Infants’ temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Results: Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants’ SLC6A4 methylation (RR =.07, p =.007, B =.16 [.05;.29]). SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants’ temperament at 3 months (RR =.05, p =.027, B = -.45 [-.92;-.06]). Conclusion: Indirect effects of the pandemic may alter the trajectories of behavioral development infants. Appropriate prevention and care acts need to be adopted by healthcare systems.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
