title: Placenta-imprinted gene expression association of infant neurobehavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify links between altered gene imprinting in the placenta and infant neurobehavioral profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the expression of 22 imprinted candidate genes in a series of 106 term human primary placenta tissues. The expression pattern uncovered was associated with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scales summary scores in the corresponding infants. Clustering of the expression data was used to define distinct classes of expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant associations were identified between classes of expression and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scales quality of movement (P = .02) and handling (P = .006) scores. Multivariate regression demonstrated an independent effect of imprinted gene expression profile on these neurobehavioral scores after controlling for confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that alterations in imprinted gene expression in the placenta are associated with infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, and suggest a role for the placenta and genomic imprinting in the placenta beyond intrauterine growth regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA. Carmen.J.Marsit@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Marsit
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lambertini
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maccani
authors.forename: Devin C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Koestler
authors.forename: E Andres
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Houseman
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Padbury
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D047929:Term Birth