title: SLC6A4 promoter region methylation and socio-emotional stress response in very preterm and full-term infants.
abstract: The present study is part of a prospective micro-longitudinal research project and reports on the association between SLC6A4 methylation and socio-emotional stress response in very preterm (VPT) and full-term (FT) infants.
  
  
  
  SLC6A4 methylation was assessed at birth and discharge in 32 VPT infants, and at birth in 27 FT infants. Socio-emotional stress response (i.e., negative emotionality) was assessed at 3 months (corrected age).
  
  
  
  Negative emotionality was higher in VPTs compared with FT counterpart. In VPT infants only, stress response was associated with SLC6A4 methylation status at discharge, which was predictive of greater negative emotionality.
  
  
  
  The present study extends previous reports, suggesting that altered SLC6A4 methylation associates with greater socio-emotional stress sensitivity in 3-month-old VPT infants.
authors.affiliation: 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montirosso
authors.affiliation: 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Provenzi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giorda
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Sacra Famiglia Hospital, Erba, CO, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sirgiovanni
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatic Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
authors.forename: Uberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pozzoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, & Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grunau
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, & Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Tim F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Oberlander
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatry & Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borgatti
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: DNA methylation; Face-Face-Still-Face paradigm; SLC6A4; negative emotionality; serotonin transporter; stress response; very preterm infants