title: DNA Methylation of Regulatory Regions of Imprinted Genes at Birth and Its Relation to Infant Temperament.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA methylation of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of imprinted genes is relevant to neurodevelopment.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA methylation status of the DMRs of nine imprinted genes in umbilical cord blood leukocytes was analyzed in relation to infant behaviors and temperament (n = 158).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MEG3DMR levels were positively associated with internalizing (β= 0.15,P= 0.044) and surgency (β= 0.19,P= 0.018) behaviors, after adjusting for birth weight, gender, gestational age at birth, maternal age at delivery, race/ethnicity, education level, smoking status, parity, and a history of anxiety or depression. Higher methylation levels at the intergenicMEG3-IGmethylation regions were associated with surgency (β= 0.28,P= 0.0003) andPEG3was positively related to externalizing (β= 0.20,P= 0.01) and negative affectivity (β= 0.18,P= 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the small sample size limits inference, these pilot data support gene-specific associations between epigenetic differences in regulatory regions of imprinted domains at birth and later infant temperament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Bernard F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Fuemmeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Chien-Ti
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adelheid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soubry
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Edwin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Amy P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Murtha
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Joellen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schildkraut
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.; Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR), University of Bedfordshire, University Square, Luton, UK.
authors.forename: Randy L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jirtle
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoyo
keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetics; imprinted genes; infant temperament