Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2016
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Genetics and Epigenetics
Volume
2016
Issue
8
First Page
59
Last Page
67
DOI of Original Publication
10.4137/GEG.S40538
Date of Submission
February 2017
Abstract
Background: DNA methylation of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of imprinted genes is relevant to neurodevelopment.
Methods: DNA methylation status of the DMRs of nine imprinted genes in umbilical cord blood leukocytes was analyzed in relation to infant behaviors and temperament (n = 158).
Results: MEG3 DMR levels were positively associated with internalizing (β = 0.15, P = 0.044) and surgency (β = 0.19, P = 0.018) behaviors, after adjusting for birth weight, gender, gestational age at birth, maternal age at delivery, race/ethnicity, education level, smoking status, parity, and a history of anxiety or depression. Higher methylation levels at the intergenic MEG3-IG methylation regions were associated with surgency (β = 0.28, P = 0.0003) and PEG3 was positively related to externalizing (β = 0.20, P = 0.01) and negative affectivity (β = 0.18, P = 0.02).
Conclusion: While the small sample size limits inference, these pilot data support gene-specific associations between epigenetic differences in regulatory regions of imprinted domains at birth and later infant temperament.
Rights
© the authors, publisher and licensee Libertas Academica Limited. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 3.0 License
Is Part Of
VCU Healthcare Policy and Research Publications
Comments
Originally published at dx.doi.org/10.4137/GEG.S40538.
Funded in part by the VCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund.