Maternal adversities during pregnancy and cord blood oxytocin receptor (OXTR) DNA methylation.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal adversities and cortisol levels during pregnancy predict cord blood DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR). We collected cord blood of 39 babies born to mothers participating in a cross-sectional study (N = 100) conducted in Basel, Switzerland (2007-10). Mothers completed the Inventory of Life Events (second trimester: T2), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS, third trimester: T3), the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS-K, 1-3 weeks postpartum) and provided saliva samples (T2, T3) for maternal cortisol profiles, as computed by the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) or increase (AUCi) for the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and for diurnal cortisol profiles (DAY). OXTR DNA methylation was quantified using Sequenom EpiTYPER. The number of stressful life events (P = 0.032), EPDS score (P = 0.007) and cortisol AUCgs at T2 (CAR: P = 0.020; DAY: P = 0.024) were negatively associated with OXTR DNA methylation. Our findings suggest that distinct prenatal adversities predict decreased DNA methylation in a gene that is relevant for childbirth, maternal behavior and wellbeing of mother and offspring. If a reduced OXTR methylation increases OXTR expression, our findings could suggest an epigenetic adaptation to an adverse early environment.
University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, 4055 Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health (sesam), 4055 Basel, Switzerland Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 La Salle Boulevard, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada.
Eva
E
Unternaehrer
University of Basel, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital, 4058 Basel, Switzerland Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Psychology, 80802 Munich, Germany.
Margarete
M
Bolten
University of Basel, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health (sesam), 4055 Basel, Switzerland Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.
Irina
I
Nast
University of Trier, Institute of Psychobiology, 54296 Trier, Germany.
Simon
S
Staehli
University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
Andrea H
AH
Meyer
University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
Emma
E
Dempster
Institute for Stress Medicine Trier, 54295 Trier, Germany.
Dirk H
DH
Hellhammer
University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, 4055 Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health (sesam), 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
Roselind
R
Lieb
University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, 4055 Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health (sesam), 4055 Basel, Switzerland Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany gunther.meinlschmidt@unibas.ch.
Gunther
G
Meinlschmidt
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000523:psychology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*
C569600:OXTR protein, human; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
early life stress; epigenetics; intrauterine exposures delayed effect; intrauterine programming; psychosocial stress during pregnancy