Brain derived neurotrophic factor moderates associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring behavioral disorders.
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with a number of adverse offspring outcomes. In the present study, based on 209 offspring from a 3-generation family study of depression, we show that the effects of prenatal exposure on offspring externalizing psychopathology (conduct, substance use disorder) is more pronounced in the presence of lower-expressing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variants. BDNF plays an important role in the development and survival of neural circuits. Individuals with low-expressing variants who are further exposed to prenatal tobacco smoke may be most vulnerable to a spectrum of behavioral disorders that depend on these circuits.
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: talatia@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Ardesheer
A
Talati
Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: zdodgerel@yahoo.com.
Zagaa
Z
Odgerel
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Departments of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: wickramp@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Priya J
PJ
Wickramaratne
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Departments of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: mmw3@columbia.edu.
Myrna M
MM
Weissman
D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced; D000066553:Problem Behavior; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
In utero exposure; val66met