title: Neurobehavior related to epigenetic differences in preterm infants.
abstract: Preterm birth is associated with medical problems affecting the neuroendocrine system, altering cortisol levels resulting in negative effects on newborn neurobehavior. Newborn neurobehavior is regulated by DNA methylation of NR3C1 and HSD11B2.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine if methylation of HSD11B2 and NR3C1 is associated with neurobehavioral profiles in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurobehavior was measured before discharge from the hospital in 67 preterm infants. Cheek swabs were collected for DNA extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants with the high-risk neurobehavioral profile showed more methylation than infants with the low-risk neurobehavioral profile at CpG3 for NR3C1 and less methylation of CpG3 for HSD11B2. Infants with these profiles were more likely to have increased methylation of NR3C1 and decreased methylation of HSD11B2 at these CpG sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preterm birth is associated with epigenetic differences in genes that regulate cortisol levels related to high-risk neurobehavioral profiles.
authors.affiliation: Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology & Community & Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Marsit
authors.affiliation: Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Neuroscience, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giarraputo
authors.affiliation: Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Katheleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawes
authors.affiliation: Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: LaGasse
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Padbury
mesh_terms: D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018899:CpG Islands; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497713:NR3C1 protein, human; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D004247:DNA; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2; C468387:HSD11B2 protein, human
keywords: DNA methylation; NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale; cortisol; epigenetics; high-risk infants; prematurity; programming