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. 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 thirteen CpG sites in mothers and infants’ buccal cells. Infants’ temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants’ SLC6A4 methylation in seven CpG sites. SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants’ temperament at 3 months.
Hidden pandemic: COVID‑19‑related stress, SLC6A4 methylation, and infants' temperament at 3 months / Livio, Provenzi; Fabiana, Mambretti; Marco, Villa; Serena, Grumi; Andrea, Citterio; Emanuela, Bertazzoli; Biasucci, G; Lidia, Decembrino; Rossana, Falcone; Barbara, Gardella; Maria Roberta, Longo; Renata, Nacinovich; Camilla, Pisoni; Federico, Prefumo; Simona, Orcesi; Barbara, Scelsa; Roberto, Giorda; Renato, Borgatti. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 11:(2021). [10.1038/s41598-021-95053-z]
Hidden pandemic: COVID‑19‑related stress, SLC6A4 methylation, and infants' temperament at 3 months
Biasucci G;
2021-01-01
Abstract
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. 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 thirteen CpG sites in mothers and infants’ buccal cells. Infants’ temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants’ SLC6A4 methylation in seven CpG sites. SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants’ temperament at 3 months.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
