title: Epigenetic signatures may explain the relationship between socioeconomic position and risk of mental illness: preliminary findings from an urban community-based sample.
abstract: Low socioeconomic position (SEP) has previously been linked to a number of negative health indicators, including poor mental health. The biologic mechanisms linking SEP and mental health remain poorly understood. Recent work suggests that social exposures influence DNA methylation in a manner salient to mental health. We conducted a pilot investigation to assess whether SEP, measured as educational attainment, modifies the association between genomic methylation profiles and traumatic stress in a trauma-exposed sample. Results show that methylation × SEP interactions occur preferentially in genes pertaining to nervous system function, suggesting a plausible biological pathway by which SEP may enhance sensitivity to stress and, in turn, risk of posttraumatic stress disorder.[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Biodemography and Social Biology for the following free supplemental resource: Supplementary tables of full model and functional annotation clustering results.].
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences , Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. monica.uddin@wayne.edu
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: Shun Chiao
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Karestan C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldmann
authors.forename: Derek E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aiello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004522:Educational Status; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D008603:Mental Health; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics*; D014505:Urban Population