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

Comments

Originally published at dx.doi.org/10.4137/GEG.S40538.

Funded in part by the VCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund.

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

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