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Deer LK, Demers CH, Hankin BL, Doom JR, Shields GS, Hoffman MC, Davis EP. Neonatal Hair Cortisol and Birth Outcomes: An Empirical Study and Meta-Analysis. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:720-729. [PMID: 39132972 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prenatal stress physiology is often posited as a predictor of birth outcomes, including gestational age at birth and birthweight. However, research has predominantly relied on indicators in the maternal system, with few studies examining hormones of the fetal system. The current study focuses on fetal cortisol in the third trimester, as measured in neonatal hair, as a biological factor that might be associated with birth outcomes (gestational age at birth and birthweight). We report findings from two studies: a longitudinal cohort (Study 1), and a meta-analysis of the existing literature (Study 2). METHODSSTUDY Hair was collected for cortisol analysis from 168 neonates (55.95% female) shortly after birth. Gestational age at birth and birthweight were abstracted from medical records. METHODSSTUDY An exhaustive search of four databases was conducted, yielding 155 total studies for screening. Papers reporting neonatal hair cortisol (collection <2 weeks postpartum) and birth outcomes among human neonates were retained for analysis, including Study 1 results ( k = 9). RESULTSSTUDY Higher neonatal hair cortisol was related to longer gestation ( r = 0.28, p < .001) and higher birthweight, r = 0.16, p = .040. Sex did not moderate either association. RESULTSSTUDY Across the nine studies, higher neonatal hair cortisol predicted both longer gestation ( r = 0.35, p < .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.45) and higher birthweight ( r = 0.18, p = .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.07-0.28). Neonatal sex did not moderate these associations. CONCLUSIONS Fetal cortisol exposure in the third trimester plays a role in normative maturation of the fetus, and findings reveal that higher cortisol is associated with positive birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- LillyBelle K Deer
- From the Department of Psychology (Deer, Doom, Davis), University of Denver, Denver; Department of Psychiatry (Demers, Hoffman), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Psychology (Hankin), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois; Department of Psychological Science (Shields), University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Hoffman), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and Department of Pediatrics (Davis), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
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Sánchez-Rubio M, Abarzúa-Catalán L, Del Valle A, Méndez-Ruette M, Salazar N, Sigala J, Sandoval S, Godoy MI, Luarte A, Monteiro LJ, Romero R, Choolani MA, Wyneken Ú, Illanes SE, Bátiz LF. Maternal stress during pregnancy alters circulating small extracellular vesicles and enhances their targeting to the placenta and fetus. Biol Res 2024; 57:70. [PMID: 39342314 PMCID: PMC11438166 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00548-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy can negatively impact fetal development, resulting in long-lasting consequences for the offspring. These effects show a sex bias. The mechanisms whereby prenatal stress induces functional and/or structural changes in the placental-fetal unit remain poorly understood. Maternal circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are good candidates to act as "stress signals" in mother-to-fetus communication. Using a repetitive restraint-based rat model of prenatal stress, we examined circulating maternal sEVs under stress conditions and tested whether they could target placental-fetal tissues. RESULTS Our mild chronic maternal stress during pregnancy paradigm induced anhedonic-like behavior in pregnant dams and led to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), particularly in male fetuses and placentas. The concentration and cargo of maternal circulating sEVs changed under stress conditions. Specifically, there was a significant reduction in neuron-enriched proteins and a significant increase in astrocyte-enriched proteins in blood-borne sEVs from stressed dams. To study the effect of repetitive restraint stress on the biodistribution of maternal circulating sEVs in the fetoplacental unit, sEVs from pregnant dams exposed to stress or control protocol were labeled with DiR fluorescent die and injected into pregnant females previously exposed to control or stress protocol. Remarkably, maternal circulating sEVs target placental/fetal tissues and, under stress conditions, fetal tissues are more receptive to sEVs. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that maternal circulating sEVs can act as novel mediators/modulators of mother-to-fetus stress communication. Further studies are needed to identify placental/fetal cellular targets of maternal sEVs and characterize their contribution to stress-induced sex-specific placental and fetal changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Sánchez-Rubio
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Abarzúa-Catalán
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Del Valle
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maxs Méndez-Ruette
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- PhD Program in Biomedicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Salazar
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jacinta Sigala
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Soledad Sandoval
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Inés Godoy
- Department of Educational Assessment, Measurement, and Registry, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Luarte
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lara J Monteiro
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Research Program in Biology of Reproduction, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NICHD/NIH/DHHS), Bethesda, Detroit, and Maryland, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mahesh A Choolani
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Úrsula Wyneken
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián E Illanes
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile.
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Research Program in Biology of Reproduction, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Luis Federico Bátiz
- Research Program in Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile.
- School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
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Wu YX, Li MJ, Liu Y, Guo M, Lan MN, Zheng HJ. ASPG and DAD1 are potential placental-derived biomarkers for ASD-like symptom severity levels in male/female offspring. Placenta 2024; 155:78-87. [PMID: 39154487 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An early evaluating system for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severity is crucial. Questionnaire survey is challenging for accurately assessing the severity levels for ASD in children. METHODS Offspring with ASD-like phenotypes were induced by treating pregnant mice with Poly (I:C) at GD12.5 and the placentae corresponding to the offspring were obtained by caesarean. The autism severity composite score (ASCS) for offspring was calculated through behavioral tests. HE staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the morphology of placenta. Candidate biomarkers were identified by weighted protein co-expression network analysis (WPCNA) combined with machine learning and further validated by ELISA. Sperman's was used to analyze the correlation between biomarkers and metabolome. RESULTS The placental weight and mean vascular area of male offspring with ASD-like phenotypes were significantly decreased compared with typical mice. According to the WPCNA, four modules were identified and significantly correlated with ASCS of offspring. Two biomarkers (ASPG and DAD1) with high correlation with ASCS in offspring were identified. DISCUSSION VEGF pathway may contribute to sexual dimorphism in placental morphology within mice with ASD-like phenotypes in term. The placental ASPG and DAD1 levels could reflect ASD-like symptom severity levels in male/female mice offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xiao Wu
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ming-Jie Li
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Min Guo
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Meng-Ning Lan
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hua-Jun Zheng
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Tsompanidis A, Warrier V, Baron-Cohen S. Sex Differences in Autism Heritability and Likelihood: What's in a Residual? JAMA Psychiatry 2024; 81:643-644. [PMID: 38630449 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Tsompanidis
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
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Saker Z, Rizk M, Merie D, Nabha RH, Pariseau NJ, Nabha SM, Makki MI. Insight into brain sex differences of typically developed infants and brain pathologies: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3491-3504. [PMID: 38693604 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The continually advancing landscape of neuroscientific and imaging research has broadened our comprehension of sex differences encoded in the human brain, expanding from the hypothalamus and sexual behaviour to encompass the entire brain, including its diverse lobes, structures, and functions. However, less is known about sex differences in the brains of neonates and infants, despite their relevance to various sex-linked diseases that develop early in life. In this review, we provide a synopsis of the literature evidence on sex differences in the brains of neonates and infants at the morphological, structural and network levels. We also briefly overview the present evidence on the sex bias in some brain disorders affecting infants and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahraa Saker
- Research Department, Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mahdi Rizk
- School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Diana Merie
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Nicole J Pariseau
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sanaa M Nabha
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Malek I Makki
- Laboratory of Functional Neurosciences and Pathologies, University of Picardy Jules Verne, Amiens, France
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Davis EP, Demers CH, Deer L, Gallop RJ, Hoffman MC, Grote N, Hankin BL. Impact of prenatal maternal depression on gestational length: post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 72:102601. [PMID: 38680516 PMCID: PMC11053273 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Shortened gestation is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality with lifelong consequences for health. There is a need for public health initiatives on increasing gestational age at birth. Prenatal maternal depression is a pervasive health problem robustly linked via correlational and epidemiological studies to shortened gestational length. This proof-of-concept study tests the impact of reducing prenatal maternal depression on gestational length with analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Methods Participants included 226 pregnant individuals enrolled into an RCT and assigned to receive either interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) or enhanced usual care (EUC). Recruitment began in July 2017 and participants were enrolled August 10, 2017 to September, 8 2021. Depression diagnosis (Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; DSM 5) and symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Symptom Checklist) were evaluated at baseline and longitudinally throughout gestation to characterize depression trajectories. Gestational dating was collected based on current guidelines via medical records. The primary outcome was gestational age at birth measured dichotomously (≥39 gestational weeks) and the secondary outcome was gestational age at birth measured continuously. Posthoc analyses were performed to test the effect of reducing prenatal maternal depression on gestational length. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03011801). Findings Steeper decreases in depression trajectories across gestation predicted later gestational age at birth, specifically an increase in the number of full-term babies born ≥39 gestational weeks (EPDS linear slopes: OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.10-2.16; and SCL-20 linear slopes: OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.16-2.42). Causal mediation analyses supported the hypothesis that participants assigned to IPT experienced greater reductions in depression symptom trajectories, which in turn, contributed to longer gestation. Supporting mediation, the natural indirect effect (NIE) showed that reduced depression trajectories resulting from intervention were associated with birth ≥39 gestational weeks (EPDS, OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.02-2.66; SCL-20, OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.97). Interpretation We used a RCT design and found that reducing maternal depression across pregnancy was associated with lengthened gestation. Funding This research was supported by the NIH (R01 HL155744, R01 MH109662, R21 MH124026, P50 MH096889).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Catherine H. Demers
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - LillyBelle Deer
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Robert J. Gallop
- Department of Mathematics, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA
| | - M. Camille Hoffman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nancy Grote
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Yin X, Zhao Y, Wang S, Feng H, He X, Li X, Liu X, Lu H, Wen D, Shi Y, Shi H. Postweaning stress affects behavior, brain and gut microbiota of adolescent mice in a sex-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology 2024; 248:109869. [PMID: 38354850 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Aggression is an instinctive behavior that has been reported to be influenced by early-life stress. However, the potential effects of acute stress during the postweaning period, a key stage for brain development, on defensive aggression and the associated mechanism remain poorly understood. In the present study, aggressive behaviors were evaluated in adolescent mice exposed to postweaning stress. Serum corticosterone and testosterone levels, neural dendritic spine density, and gut microbiota composition were determined to identify the underlying mechanism. Behavioral analysis showed that postweaning stress reduced locomotor activity in mice and decreased defensive aggression in male mice. ELISA results showed that postweaning stress reduced serum testosterone levels in female mice. Golgi staining analysis demonstrated that postweaning stress decreased neural dendritic spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex of male mice. 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that postweaning stress altered the composition of the gut microbiota in male mice. Combined, these results suggested that postweaning stress alters defensive aggression in male mice, which may be due to changes in neuronal structure as well as gut microbiota composition. Our findings highlight the long-lasting and sex-dependent effects of early-life experience on behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyong Yin
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Hao Feng
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Xinyue He
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Xincheng Li
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Hengtai Lu
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Di Wen
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Yun Shi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
| | - Haishui Shi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Nursing School, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China.
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Amnuaylojaroen T, Parasin N, Saokaew S. Exploring the association between early-life air pollution exposure and autism spectrum disorders in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 125:108582. [PMID: 38556115 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between air pollution and the vulnerability of children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A thorough examination and analysis of data obtained from a compilation of 14 studies was undertaken, with a particular emphasis on investigating the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on individuals diagnosed with ASD. The findings demonstrate a moderate association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ASD, as indicated by a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) spanning from 0.77 to 1.549. O3 shows a combined odds ratio (OR) of 0.82, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 0.49 to 1.14. NOx shows a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² = 75.9%, p = 0.002), suggesting that the impact of NOx on the risk of ASD. There is a statistically significant relationship between exposure to O3 and ASD, although the strength of this relationship is diminished. The findings demonstrated a noteworthy correlation between exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 and the occurrence of ASD. The study found a significant correlation, in relation to PM2.5, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 1.11 to 1.34. The findings have significant implications for the formulation of programs aimed at reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, especially among vulnerable groups such as children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teerachai Amnuaylojaroen
- School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Units, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
| | - Nichapa Parasin
- School of Allied Health Science, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Surasak Saokaew
- Division of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Unit of Excellence on Clinical Outcomes Research and Integration (UNICORN), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Center of Health Outcomes Research and Therapeutic Safety (Cohorts), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
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Bush NR. Programming the next generation of prenatal programming of stress research: A review and suggestions for the future of the field. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38482548 PMCID: PMC11399316 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
In this article, I highlight core ideas, empirical findings, and advances in the study of how stress during pregnancy may prenatally program child neurodevelopmental, psychopathological, and health outcomes, emphasizing reviews, metanalyses, and recent contributions of conceptual and empirical work. The article offers a perspective on the history of this area of science, the underrecognized contributions of influential scholars from diverse fields of study, what we know from the evidence to date, the persistent challenges in sorting through what is left to learn, and suggestions for future research. I include sections focused on promoting resilience, pregnancy interventions that demonstrate positive effects across two generations, and the translational implications of the accruing data for practice and policy, highlighting opportunities for integrating across a range of fields and sectors. In the concluding sections, I discuss lessons learned from conducting this work and provide a closing summary of progress and future directions. The goal of this writing was to provide a viewpoint on some ways that emerging intergenerational transmission scholars might responsibly contribute to the future of the field of developmental psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Health and Community, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Rivera KM, D'Anna-Hernandez KL, Hankin BL, Davis EP, Doom JR. Experience of discrimination reported during pregnancy and infant's emerging effortful control. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22455. [PMID: 38388206 PMCID: PMC10928799 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Discrimination reported during pregnancy is associated with poorer offspring emotional outcomes. Links with effortful control have yet to be examined. This study investigated whether pregnant individuals' reports of lifetime racial/ethnic discrimination and everyday discrimination (including but not specific to race/ethnicity) reported during pregnancy were associated with offspring emerging effortful control at 6 months of age. Pregnant individuals (N = 174) and their offspring (93 female infants) participated. During pregnancy, participants completed two discrimination measures: (1) lifetime experience of racial/ethnic discrimination, and (2) everyday discrimination (not specific to race/ethnicity). Parents completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised when infants were 6 months old to assess orienting/regulation, a measure of emerging effortful control. Analyses were conducted in a subsample with racially/ethnically marginalized participants and then everyday discrimination analyses were repeated in the full sample. For racially/ethnically marginalized participants, greater everyday discrimination (β = -.27, p = .01) but not greater lifetime experience of racial/ethnic discrimination (β = -.21, p = .06) was associated with poorer infant emerging effortful control. In the full sample, greater everyday discrimination was associated with poorer infant emerging effortful control (β = -.24, p = .002). Greater perceived stress, but not depressive symptoms, at 2 months postnatal mediated the association between everyday discrimination and emerging effortful control. Further research should examine additional biological and behavioral mechanisms by which discrimination reported during pregnancy may affect offspring emerging effortful control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenia M Rivera
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Benjamin L Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Orange, California, USA
| | - Jenalee R Doom
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
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11
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Hennessey EMP, Swales DA, Markant J, Hoffman MC, Hankin BL, Davis EP. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy predicts infant attention to affective faces. J Affect Disord 2024; 344:104-114. [PMID: 37802320 PMCID: PMC10841611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal anxiety is a known influence on offspring development. General anxiety and pregnancy-related anxiety (a distinct type of anxiety encompassing fears associated with pregnancy) are associated with offspring socioemotional development, with potential consequences for later emotional and behavioral problems. This study examines whether maternal pregnancy-related and general anxiety relate to infant attention to affective faces, a process which plays an integral role in early socioemotional development. METHODS Participants included 86 mothers and their 6-month-old infants (56.3 % female). Mothers completed measures of pregnancy-related and general anxiety three times through gestation. Infants' attention to affective faces was assessed with an eye-tracking task during which a series of face pairs were presented (happy, angry, or sad face paired with a neutral face). Overall attention measures included attention-holding (total looking time) and attention-orienting (latency to faces); affect-biased attention measures included proportion of total looking time to emotional faces and latency difference score. RESULTS Higher maternal pregnancy-related anxiety across gestation predicted decreased infant attention-holding to affective faces [F(1,80) = 7.232, p = .009, partial η2 = 0.083]. No differences were found in infant attention-orienting or affect-biased attention. LIMITATIONS Reliance on a correlational study design precludes the ability to make causal inferences. CONCLUSIONS Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety is an important predictor of child outcomes. We provide novel evidence that pregnancy-related anxiety predicts infant attention to emotional faces, behaviors which have important implications for socioemotional development. Providers may consider pregnancy-related anxiety as a target for screening and treatment that may benefit both pregnant individual and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danielle A Swales
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie Markant
- Department of Psychology & Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - M Camille Hoffman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Benjamin L Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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12
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Zhou J, Tong J, Ru X, Teng Y, Geng M, Yan S, Tao F, Huang K. Placental inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression and preschool children's cognitive performance: a birth cohort study in China. BMC Med 2023; 21:449. [PMID: 37981714 PMCID: PMC10658981 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immunologic milieu at the maternal-fetal interface has profound effects on propelling the development of the fetal brain. However, accessible epidemiological studies concerning the association between placental inflammatory cytokines and the intellectual development of offspring in humans are limited. Therefore, we explored the possible link between mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines in placenta and preschoolers' cognitive performance. METHODS Study subjects were obtained from the Ma'anshan birth cohort (MABC). Placental samples were collected after delivery, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to measure the mRNA expression levels of IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-4. Children's intellectual development was assessed at preschool age by using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline models were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 1665 pairs of mother and child were included in the analysis. After adjusting for confounders and after correction for multiple comparisons, we observed that mRNA expression of IL-8 (β = - 0.53; 95% CI, - 0.92 to - 0.15), IL-6 (β = - 0.58; 95% CI, - 0.97 to - 0.19), TNF-α (β = - 0.37; 95% CI, - 0.71 to - 0.02), and IFN-γ (β = - 0.31; 95% CI, - 0.61 to - 0.03) in the placenta was negatively associated with preschoolers' full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ). Both higher IL-8 and IL-6 were associated with lower children's low fluid reasoning index (FRI), and higher IFN-γ was associated with lower children's working memory index (WMI). After further adjusting for confounders and children's age at cognitive testing, the integrated index of six pro-inflammatory cytokines (index 2) was found to be significantly and negatively correlated with both the FSIQ and each sub-dimension (verbal comprehension index (VCI), visual spatial index (VSI), FRI, WMI, processing speed index (PSI)). Sex-stratified analyses showed that the association of IL-8, IFN-γ, and index 2 with children's cognitive development was mainly concentrated in boys. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of an association between low cognitive performance and high expression of placental inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) was found, highlighting the potential importance of intrauterine placental immune status in dissecting offspring cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixing Zhou
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Juan Tong
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Xue Ru
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yuzhu Teng
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Menglong Geng
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Shuangqin Yan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Maternal and Child Health Care Center of Ma'anshan, No 24 Jiashan Road, Ma'anshan 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (AHMU), MOE, Hefei, 230032, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province, China.
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13
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Deer LK, Doom JR, Harrall KK, Glueck DH, Glynn LM, Sandman CA, Davis EP. Infant effortful control predicts BMI trajectories from infancy to adolescence. Pediatr Obes 2023; 18:e13059. [PMID: 37287418 PMCID: PMC10525013 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effortful control, or the regulation of thoughts and behaviour, is a potential target for preventing childhood obesity. OBJECTIVES To assess effortful control in infancy through late childhood as a predictor of repeated measures of body mass index (BMI) from infancy through adolescence, and to examine whether sex moderates the associations. METHODS Maternal report of offspring effortful control and measurements of child BMI were obtained at 7 and 8 time points respectively from 191 gestational parent/child dyads from infancy through adolescence. General linear mixed models were used. RESULTS Effortful control at 6 months predicted BMI trajectories from infancy through adolescence, F(5,338) = 2.75, p = 0.03. Further, when effortful control at other timepoints were included in the model, they added no additional explanatory value. Sex moderated the association between 6-month effortful control and BMI, F(4, 338) = 2.59, p = 0.03, with poorer infant effortful control predicting higher BMI in early childhood for girls, and more rapid increases in BMI in early adolescence for boys. CONCLUSIONS Effortful control in infancy was associated with BMI over time. Specifically, poor effortful control during infancy was associated with higher BMI in childhood and adolescence. These findings support the argument that infancy may be a sensitive window for the development of later obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kylie K. Harrall
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Deborah H. Glueck
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | | | - Curt A. Sandman
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine
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14
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Christians JK, Ahmadzadeh-Seddeighi S, Bilal A, Bogdanovic A, Ho R, Leung EV, MacGregor MA, Nadasdy NM, Principe GM. Sex differences in the effects of prematurity and/or low birthweight on neurodevelopmental outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:47. [PMID: 37434174 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premature birth and/or low birthweight have long-lasting effects on cognition. The purpose of the present systematic review is to examine whether the effects of prematurity and/or low birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes differ between males and females. METHODS Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched for studies of humans born premature and/or of low birthweight, where neurodevelopmental phenotypes were measured at 1 year of age or older. Studies must have reported outcomes in such a way that it was possible to assess whether effects were greater in one sex than the other. Risk of bias was assessed using both the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the National Institutes of Health Quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS Seventy-five studies were included for descriptive synthesis, although only 24 presented data in a way that could be extracted for meta-analyses. Meta-analyses found that severe and moderate prematurity/low birthweight impaired cognitive function, and severe prematurity/low birthweight also increased internalizing problem scores. Moderate, but not severe, prematurity/low birthweight significantly increased externalizing problem scores. In no case did effects of prematurity/low birthweight differ between males and females. Heterogeneity among studies was generally high and significant, although age at assessment was not a significant moderator of effect. Descriptive synthesis did not identify an obvious excess or deficiency of male-biased or female-biased effects for any trait category. Individual study quality was generally good, and we found no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that the sexes differ in their susceptibility to the effects of severe or moderate prematurity/low birthweight on cognitive function, internalizing traits or externalizing traits. Result heterogeneity tended to be high, but this reflects that one sex is not consistently more affected than the other. Frequently stated generalizations that one sex is more susceptible to prenatal adversity should be re-evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | | | - Alishba Bilal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Anastasia Bogdanovic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Ho
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Estee V Leung
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Megan A MacGregor
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Nolan M Nadasdy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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15
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Chen YJ, Strodl E, Hou XY, Wu CA, Chen JY, Huang LH, Yin XN, Wen GM, Sun DL, Xian DX, Yang GY, Chen WQ. Parent-child interactions in early life mediating association between prenatal maternal stress and autistic-like behaviors among preschoolers. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2023; 28:2156-2168. [PMID: 35477332 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2070226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A range of studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) exposure is associated with offspring autistic-like behaviors, however the potential pathways remain unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of parent-child interactions in early life in the association between PNMS exposure and preschoolers' autistic-like behaviors. Data from 65,928 child-parent dyads were obtained via a primary caregiver-reported questionnaire administered as part of the Longhua Child Cohort Study. To strengthen confidence in the reliability of the results, the analyses were initially conducted on a random selection of 70% of the total sample, and then validated on the remaining 30% of the sample. Analysis of covariance and multiple linear models were employed to estimate the associations between PNMS exposure, parent-child interactions in early life, and children's autistic-like behaviors. The results showed that PNMS exposure was positively associated with the presence of autistic-like behaviors at preschool age. The total indirect effect of the frequency of positive parent-child interactions in early life accounted for 9.69% or 8.99% of the variance of the association. Our findings indicate that parent-child interactions in early life might function as potential mediators of the association between PNMS and the increased risk of offspring autistic-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jie Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Esben Strodl
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiang-Yu Hou
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland
| | - Chuan-An Wu
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing-Yi Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Hua Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Na Yin
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Guo-Min Wen
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Deng-Li Sun
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Dan-Xia Xian
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Gui-You Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei-Qing Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Information Management, Xinhua College of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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16
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Hartman S, Belsky J, Pluess M. Prenatal programming of environmental sensitivity. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:161. [PMID: 37164986 PMCID: PMC10172185 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
According to several theories, people differ in their sensitivity to environmental influences with some more susceptible than others to both supportive and adverse contextual conditions. Such differences in environmental sensitivity have a genetic basis but are also shaped by environmental factors. Herein we narratively build on our previous work proposing that prenatal experiences contribute to the development of environmental sensitivity. This hypothesis of prenatal programming of postnatal plasticity has considerable empirical support. After presenting illustrative animal and human evidence consistent with this claim, we discuss a range of biological mechanisms likely involved in the pathway from prenatal stress exposure to postnatal environmental sensitivity. We also consider work suggesting that genetic differences, gender, as well as the timing, duration and intensity of prenatal exposures may moderate the effects of prenatal programming on postnatal environmental susceptibility or sensitivity. Before concluding, we highlight "unknowns in the prenatal programming of environmental sensitivity" and their practical implications. Ultimately, we conclude that prenatal stress does not necessarily predispose individuals to problematical development, but rather increases sensitivity to both adverse and supportive postnatal contexts. Thus, prenatal stress may actually foster positive development if paired with supportive and caring postnatal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hartman
- Department of Human Eology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Eology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael Pluess
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
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17
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Deer LK, Su C, Thwaites NA, Davis EP, Doom JR. A framework for testing pathways from prenatal stress-responsive hormones to cardiovascular disease risk. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1111474. [PMID: 37223037 PMCID: PMC10200937 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1111474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death globally, with the prevalence projected to keep rising. Risk factors for adult CVD emerge at least as early as the prenatal period. Alterations in stress-responsive hormones in the prenatal period are hypothesized to contribute to CVD in adulthood, but little is known about relations between prenatal stress-responsive hormones and early precursors of CVD, such as cardiometabolic risk and health behaviors. The current review presents a theoretical model of the relation between prenatal stress-responsive hormones and adult CVD through cardiometabolic risk markers (e.g., rapid catch-up growth, high BMI/adiposity, high blood pressure, and altered blood glucose, lipids, and metabolic hormones) and health behaviors (e.g., substance use, poor sleep, poor diet and eating behaviors, and low physical activity levels). Emerging evidence in human and non-human animal literatures suggest that altered stress-responsive hormones during gestation predict higher cardiometabolic risk and poorer health behaviors in offspring. This review additionally highlights limitations of the current literature (e.g., lack of racial/ethnic diversity, lack of examination of sex differences), and discusses future directions for this promising area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- LillyBelle K. Deer
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Chen Su
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | | | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jenalee R. Doom
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
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18
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Noroña-Zhou A, Coccia M, Sullivan A, O’Connor TG, Collett BR, Derefinko K, Renner LM, Loftus CT, Roubinov D, Carroll KN, Nguyen RHN, Karr CJ, Sathyanarayana S, Barrett ES, Mason WA, LeWinn KZ, Bush NR. A Multi-Cohort Examination of the Independent Contributions of Maternal Childhood Adversity and Pregnancy Stressors to the Prediction of Children's Anxiety and Depression. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:497-512. [PMID: 36462137 PMCID: PMC10017630 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-01002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Women's social experiences can have long-term implications for their offspring's health, but little is known about the potential independent contributions of multiple periods of stress exposures over time. This study examined associations of maternal exposure to adversity in childhood and pregnancy with children's anxiety and depression symptoms in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample. Participants were 1389 mother-child dyads (child age M = 8.83 years; SD = 0.66; 42% Black, 42% White; 6% Hispanic) in the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium's three U.S. pregnancy cohorts. Women reported their exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and pregnancy stressful life events (PSLE). Children self-reported on their symptoms of anxiety and depression at age 8-9 years. Regression analyses estimated associations between maternal stressors and children's internalizing problems, adjusting for confounders, and examined child sex as a modifier. Exploratory interaction analyses examined whether geospatially-linked postnatal neighborhood quality buffered effects. In adjusted models, PSLE counts positively predicted levels of children's anxiety and depression symptoms ([ßAnxiety=0.08, 95%CI [0.02, 0.13]; ßDepression=0.09, 95%CI [0.03, 0.14]); no significant associations were observed with CTE. Each additional PSLE increased odds of clinically significant anxiety symptoms by 9% (95%CI [0.02, 0.17]). Neither sex nor neighborhood quality moderated relations. Maternal stressors during pregnancy appear to have associations with middle childhood anxiety and depression across diverse sociodemographic contexts, whereas maternal history of childhood adversity may not. Effects appear comparable for boys and girls. Policies and programs addressing prevention of childhood internalizing symptoms may benefit from considering prenatal origins and the potential two-generation impact of pregnancy stress prevention and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Noroña-Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA
- Center for Health and Community, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Michael Coccia
- Center for Health and Community, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Alexis Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Thomas G. O’Connor
- Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, Neuroscience, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Brent R. Collett
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Karen Derefinko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN USA
| | | | - Christine T. Loftus
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Danielle Roubinov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Kecia N. Carroll
- Departments of Environmental Medicine and Public Health and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Ruby H. N. Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Emily S. Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - W. Alex Mason
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Kaja Z. LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Nicole R. Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA
- Center for Health and Community, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA
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19
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Zierden HC, Marx-Rattner R, Rock KD, Montgomery KR, Anastasiadis P, Folts L, Bale TL. Extracellular vesicles are dynamic regulators of maternal glucose homeostasis during pregnancy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4568. [PMID: 36941297 PMCID: PMC10027885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31425-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Homeostatic regulation of the maternal milieu during pregnancy is critical for maternal and fetal health. The placenta facilitates critical communication between maternal and fetal compartments, in part, through the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs enable tissue synchrony via cell-cell and long-distance communication and are at their highest circulating concentration during pregnancy. While much work has been done investigating how physiological challenges in pregnancy affect the fetus, the role of placental communication in maternal health has not been well examined. We previously identified placental O-glycosyl transferase (OGT), a glucose-sensing enzyme, as a target of maternal stress where OGT levels and activity affected the O-glycosylation of proteins critical for EV cargo loading and secretion. Here, we hypothesized that placental OGT plays an essential role in maternal homeostatic regulation during pregnancy via its regulation of maternal circulating EV concentrations. Our studies found that changes to key metabolic factors over the circadian cycle, including glucocorticoids, insulin, and glucose, were significantly associated with changes in circulating EV concentration. Targeting placental OGT in mice, we found a novel significant positive relationship between placental OGT and maternal circulating EV concentration that was associated with improving maternal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Finally, an intravenous elevation in EVs, matching the concentration of EVs during pregnancy, shifted non-pregnant female glucose sensitivity, blunted glucose variance, and improved synchrony of glucose uptake. These data suggest an important and novel role for circulating EVs as homeostatic regulators important in maternal health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C Zierden
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Ruth Marx-Rattner
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Kristen R Montgomery
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Pavlos Anastasiadis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Lillian Folts
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women's Integrated Mental and Physical Health Research at the Ludeman Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, CU Anschutz Medical Campus, 12800 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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20
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Azar N, Booij L. DNA methylation as a mediator in the association between prenatal maternal stress and child mental health outcomes: Current state of knowledge. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:142-163. [PMID: 36113690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal stress is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for offspring mental health challenges. DNA methylation may be a mechanism, but few studies directly tested mediation. These few integrative studies are reviewed along with studies from three research areas: prenatal maternal stress and child mental health, prenatal maternal stress and child DNA methylation, and child mental health and DNA methylation. METHODS We conducted a narrative review of articles in each research area and the few published integrative studies to evaluate the state of knowledge. RESULTS Prenatal maternal stress was related to greater offspring internalizing and externalizing symptoms and to greater offspring peripheral DNA methylation of the NR3C1 gene. Youth mental health problems were also related to NR3C1 hypermethylation while epigenome-wide studies identified genes involved in nervous system development. Integrative studies focused on infant outcomes and did not detect significant mediation by DNA methylation though methodological considerations may partially explain these null results. LIMITATIONS Operationalization of prenatal maternal stress and child mental health varied greatly. The few published integrative studies did not report conclusive evidence of mediation by DNA methylation. CONCLUSIONS DNA methylation likely mediates the association between prenatal maternal stress and child mental health. This conclusion still needs to be tested in a larger number of integrative studies. Key empirical and statistical considerations for future research are discussed. Understanding the consequences of prenatal maternal stress and its pathways of influence will help prevention and intervention efforts and ultimately promote well-being for both mothers and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Azar
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, 3175 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, 3175 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
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21
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Demers CH, Hankin BL, Hennessey EMP, Haase MH, Bagonis MM, Kim SH, Gilmore JH, Hoffman MC, Styner MA, Davis EP. Maternal adverse childhood experiences and infant subcortical brain volume. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100487. [PMID: 36532374 PMCID: PMC9755027 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A large body of research supports the deleterious effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on disease susceptibility and health for both the exposed individual and the next generation. It is likely that there is an intergenerational transmission of risk from mother to child; however, the mechanisms through which such risk is conferred remain unknown. The current study evaluated the association between maternal ACEs, neonatal brain development of the amygdala and hippocampus, and later infant negative emotionality at six months of age. Methods The sample included 85 mother-infant dyads (44 female infants) from a longitudinal study. Maternal ACEs were assessed with the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) and neonatal hippocampal and amygdala volume was assessed using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Infant negative emotionality was assessed at 6 months using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). Results Multivariate analyses demonstrated that maternal ACEs were associated with bilateral amygdala volume (F(2,78) = 3.697,p = .029). Specifically, higher maternal ACEs were associated with smaller left (β = -0.220, t(79) = -2.661, p = .009, R2 = 0.494, and right (β = -0.167, t(79) = -2.043, p = .044, R2 = 0.501) amygdala volume. No significant association between maternal ACEs and bilateral hippocampal volume (F(2,78) = 0.215,p = .0807) was found. Follow-up regression analyses demonstrated that both high maternal ACEs and smaller left amygdala volume were associated with higher infant negative emotionality at six months of age (β = .232, p = .040, R2 = 0.094, and β = -0.337, p = .022, R2 = 0.16, respectively) although statistically significant mediation of this effect was not observed (Indirect effect = 0.0187, 95% CI [-0.0016-0.0557]). Conclusions Maternal ACEs are associated with both newborn amygdala volume and subsequent infant negative emotionality. These findings linking maternal adverse childhood experiences and infant brain development and temperament provide evidence to support the intergenerational transmission of adversity from mother to child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine H. Demers
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Corresponding author. University of Denver, Department of Psychology, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO, 80208-3500, USA.
| | - Benjamin L. Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Maria M. Bagonis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- PrimeNeuro, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sun Hyung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M. Camille Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Martin A. Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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22
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Christiansen DM, McCarthy MM, Seeman MV. Where Sex Meets Gender: How Sex and Gender Come Together to Cause Sex Differences in Mental Illness. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:856436. [PMID: 35836659 PMCID: PMC9273892 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.856436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are prevalent in multiple mental disorders. Internalizing disorders are more commonly diagnosed in women, whereas externalizing and neurodevelopmental disorders are more often diagnosed in men. Significant sex/gender differences are reported in prevalence, symptom profile, age of onset, comorbidities, functional impairment, prognosis, as well as in responses to various treatments. In this conceptual article, we discuss theories and empirical studies of sex- and gender-related influences in mental health, by focusing on three examples: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), acknowledged as a disorder whose roots are mainly biological; eating disorders, whose origins are considered to be mainly psychosocial, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an environmentally caused disorder with both psychosocial and biological underpinnings. We examine the ways in which sex differences emerge, from conception through adulthood. We also examine how gender dichotomies in exposures, expectations, role assumptions, and cultural traditions impact the expression of our three selected mental illnesses. We are especially interested in how sex-based influences and gender-based influences interact with one another to affect mental illness. We suggest that sex and gender are multi-faceted and complex phenomena that result in variations, not only between men and women, but also within each sex and gender through alterations in genes, hormone levels, self-perceptions, trauma experiences, and interpersonal relationships. Finally, we propose a conceptual diatheses-stress model, depicting how sex and gender come together to result in multiple sex/gender differences across mental disorders. In our model, we categorize diatheses into several categories: biological, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental. These diatheses interact with exposure to stressors, ranging from relatively minor to traumatic, which allows for the sometimes bidirectional influences of acute and long-term stress responses. Sex and gender are discussed at every level of the model, thereby providing a framework for understanding and predicting sex/gender differences in expression, prevalence and treatment response of mental disorders. We encourage more research into this important field of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorte M. Christiansen
- Department of Psychology, National Centre for Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Margaret M. McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mary V. Seeman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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23
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Monteiro VRS, Andrade CBV, Gomes HR, Reginatto MW, Império GE, Fontes KN, Spiess DA, Rangel-Junior WS, Nascimento VMO, Lima COS, Sousa RPC, Bloise FF, Matthews SG, Bloise E, Pimentel-Coelho PM, Ortiga-Carvalho TM. Mid-pregnancy poly(I:C) viral mimic disrupts placental ABC transporter expression and leads to long-term offspring motor and cognitive dysfunction. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10262. [PMID: 35715474 PMCID: PMC9205917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14248-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available about the effect of mid-pregnancy viral infections on the placental expression of efflux transporters and offspring behavior. We hypothesized that maternal exposure to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], a synthetic double-stranded RNA viral mimic, would impair placental cell turnover, the expression of selected ABC transporters and adult offspring behavior. C57BL/6 mice were administered poly(I:C) (10 mg/Kg;ip) or vehicle at gestational day (GD) 13.5 (mid-pregnancy). Dams were euthanized for blood collection 4 h after injection, fetal and placental collection at GD18.5 or allowed to deliver spontaneously at term. At GD 13.5, poly(I:C) induced an acute pro-inflammatory response characterized by an increase in maternal plasma levels of IL-6, CXCL-1 and CCL-2/MCP-1. At GD 18.5, poly(I:C) decreased cell proliferation/death in the labyrinthine and increased cell death in the junctional zones, characterizing a disruption of placental cell turnover. Abca1 and Abcg1 immunolabelling was decreased in the labyrinthine zone, whereas Abca1, Abcg1 and breast cancer resistance transporter (Bcrp) expression increased in the junctional zone. Moreover, adult offspring showed motor and cognitive impairments in the Rotarod and T-water maze tests. These results indicate that viral infection during mid-pregnancy may disrupt relevant placental efflux transporters, as well as placental cell turnover and offspring behavior in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R S Monteiro
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - C B V Andrade
- Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade Estadual Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - H R Gomes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - M W Reginatto
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - G E Império
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - K N Fontes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - D A Spiess
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - W S Rangel-Junior
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - V M O Nascimento
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - C O S Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - R P C Sousa
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - F F Bloise
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - S G Matthews
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - E Bloise
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - P M Pimentel-Coelho
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - T M Ortiga-Carvalho
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
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24
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Paraschivescu C, Barbosa S, Van Steenwinckel J, Gressens P, Glaichenhaus N, Davidovic L. Early Life Exposure to Tumor Necrosis Factor Induces Precocious Sensorimotor Reflexes Acquisition and Increases Locomotor Activity During Mouse Postnatal Development. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:845458. [PMID: 35368298 PMCID: PMC8964393 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.845458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation appears as a cardinal mediator of the deleterious effect of early life stress exposure on neurodevelopment. More generally, immune activation during the perinatal period, and most importantly elevations of pro-inflammatory cytokines levels could contribute to psychopathology and neurological deficits later in life. Cytokines are also required for normal brain function in homeostatic conditions and play a role in neurodevelopmental processes. Despite these latter studies, whether pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) impact neurodevelopmental trajectories and behavior during the immediate postnatal period remains to be elucidated. To address this issue, we have injected mouse pups daily with recombinant TNF from postnatal day (P)1 to P5. This yielded a robust increase in peripheral and central TNF at P5, and also an increase of additional pro-inflammatory cytokines. Compared to control pups injected with saline, mice injected with TNF acquired the righting and the acoustic startle reflexes more rapidly and exhibited increased locomotor activity 2 weeks after birth. Our results extend previous work restricted to adult behaviors and support the notion that cytokines, and notably TNF, modulate early neurodevelopmental trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Paraschivescu
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Susana Barbosa
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | - Nicolas Glaichenhaus
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Laetitia Davidovic
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
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25
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Sex Differences in Anxiety and Depression: What Can (and Cannot) Preclinical Studies Tell Us? SEXES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sexes3010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the gender perspective in scientific research and sex differences in biological studies on emotional disorders have become increasingly important. However, sex bias in basic research on anxiety and depression is still far from being covered. This review addresses the study of sex differences in the field of anxiety and depression using animal models that consider this issue so far. What can preclinical studies tell us and what are their main limitations? First, we describe the behavioral tests most frequently used in preclinical research to assess depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Then, we analyze the main findings, strengths, and weaknesses of rodent models of anxiety and depression, dividing them into three main categories: sex chromosome complement-biased sex differences; gonadal hormone-biased sex differences; environmental-biased sex differences. Regardless of the animal model used, none can reproduce all the characteristics of such complex and multifactorial pathologies as anxiety and depressive disorders; however, each animal model contributes to elucidating the bases that underlie these disorders. The importance is highlighted of considering sex differences in the responses that emerge from each model.
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26
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Makris G, Agorastos A, Chrousos GP, Pervanidou P. Stress System Activation in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:756628. [PMID: 35095389 PMCID: PMC8793840 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.756628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mission of the human stress system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived, acute or chronic stressors. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are the stress system-related neuroendocrine pathways. There is abundant evidence that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may exhibit atypical function within the HPA axis and the ANS both at the resting state and during the presence of social and/or non-social stressors. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the findings regarding stress system alterations in children and adolescents with ASD. We focus on the variations of stress hormones circadian rhythms, specifically cortisol and alpha-amylase (i.e., a surrogate index of epinephrine/norepinephrine secretion), and on the alterations of stress system responsivity to different stressors. Also, we present imaging and immunological findings that have been associated with stress system dysregulation in children and adolescents with ASD. Finally, we review the pivotal role of HPA axis-ANS coordination, the developmental trajectory of the stress system in ASD, and the possible role of early life stress in the dysregulation of the stress system demonstrated in children and adolescents with ASD. This synthesis will hopefully provide researchers with a foundation for an integrated approach to future research into stress system variations in children and adolescents with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerasimos Makris
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- *Correspondence: Gerasimos Makris,
| | - Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry II, Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George P. Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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27
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Impact of Fkbp5 × early life adversity × sex in humanised mice on multidimensional stress responses and circadian rhythmicity. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3544-3555. [PMID: 35449298 PMCID: PMC9708571 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01549-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cumulative load of genetic predisposition, early life adversity (ELA) and lifestyle shapes the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human FKBP5 gene were shown to modulate disease risk. To enable investigation of disease-related SNPs in behaviourally relevant context, we generated humanised mouse lines carrying either the risk (AT) or the resiliency (CG) allele of the rs1360780 locus and exposed litters of these mice to maternal separation. Behavioural and physiological aspects of their adult stress responsiveness displayed interactions of genotype, early life condition, and sex. In humanised females carrying the CG- but not the AT-allele, ELA led to altered HPA axis functioning, exploratory behaviour, and sociability. These changes correlated with differential expression of genes in the hypothalamus, where synaptic transmission, metabolism, and circadian entrainment pathways were deregulated. Our data suggest an integrative role of FKBP5 in shaping the sex-specific outcome of ELA in adulthood.
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28
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Birnie MT, Levis SC, Mahler SV, Baram TZ. Developmental Trajectories of Anhedonia in Preclinical Models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 58:23-41. [PMID: 35156184 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This chapter discusses how the complex concept of anhedonia can be operationalized and studied in preclinical models. It provides information about the development of anhedonia in the context of early-life adversity, and the power of preclinical models to tease out the diverse molecular, epigenetic, and network mechanisms that are responsible for anhedonia-like behaviors.Specifically, we first discuss the term anhedonia, reviewing the conceptual components underlying reward-related behaviors and distinguish anhedonia pertaining to deficits in motivational versus consummatory behaviors. We then describe the repertoire of experimental approaches employed to study anhedonia-like behaviors in preclinical models, and the progressive refinement over the past decade of both experimental instruments (e.g., chemogenetics, optogenetics) and conceptual constructs (salience, valence, conflict). We follow with an overview of the state of current knowledge of brain circuits, nodes, and projections that execute distinct aspects of hedonic-like behaviors, as well as neurotransmitters, modulators, and receptors involved in the generation of anhedonia-like behaviors. Finally, we discuss the special case of anhedonia that arises following early-life adversity as an eloquent example enabling the study of causality, mechanisms, and sex dependence of anhedonia.Together, this chapter highlights the power, potential, and limitations of using preclinical models to advance our understanding of the origin and mechanisms of anhedonia and to discover potential targets for its prevention and mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Birnie
- Departments of Anatomy/Neurobiology and Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sophia C Levis
- Departments of Anatomy/Neurobiology and Neurobiology/Behavior, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephen V Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Departments of Anatomy/Neurobiology and Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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29
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Liu H, Liu Y, Huang K, Yan S, Hao J, Zhu P, Tao F, Shao S. Gender-specific associations of pregnancy-related anxiety with placental epigenetic patterning of glucocorticoid response genes and preschooler's emotional symptoms and hyperactivity. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:479. [PMID: 34715840 PMCID: PMC8555194 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02938-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUD We have recently reported that maternal prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety predicts preschoolers' emotional and behavioral development in a gender-dependent manner. This study aims to test for this gender-specific effect in a different cohort and investigate whether the gender difference was specific to placental methylation of genes regulating glucocorticoids. METHODS A total of 2405 mother-child pairs from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort Study were included in present study. The maternal pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms were evaluated with the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire in the third trimester of pregnancy. Child neurobehavior was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 4 years old. Placental methylation of FKBP5, NR3C1 and HSD11B2 genes was quantified using the MethylTarget approach in 439 pregnant women. After exploratory factor analysis, the associations between methylation factor scores and pregnancy-related anxiety and child neurobehavior were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS After controlling for confounding factors, pregnancy-related anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of hyperactivity only in boys and emotional symptoms only in girls. Decreased scores of the factor characterized by FKBP5 methylation were associated with maternal pregnancy-related anxiety only in boys. Furthermore, increased scores of the factors characterized by NR3C1 and HSD11B2 methylation were associated with hyperactivity (NR3C1: adjusted OR = 1.80, 95%CI = 1.15-2.83) and emotional symptoms (HSD11B2: adjusted OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.29-0.97; NR3C1: adjusted OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.03-2.59) only in boys. However, the scores of the factor characterized by FKBP5, NR3C1 and HSD11B2 did not mediate the relationship between maternal pregnancy-related anxiety and preschoolers' emotional symptoms and hyperactivity. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that pregnancy-related anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy predicted preschoolers' emotional symptoms and hyperactivity in a gender-dependent manner. Although we did not find the mediation role of the placental methylation of genes regulating glucocorticoids, we found it was associated with both maternal pregnancy-related anxiety and preschoolers' emotional symptoms and hyperactivity in a gender-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yuwei Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shuangqin Yan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Maternal and Child Health Care Center of Ma'anshan, No 24 Jiashan Road, Ma'anshan, 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Jiahu Hao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Shanshan Shao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Prenatal or Early Life Exposure to Pesticides: A Short Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010991. [PMID: 34682738 PMCID: PMC8535369 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses have rapidly increased globally. Both environmental and genetic factors appear to contribute to the development of ASD. Several studies have shown a potential association between prenatal or postnatal pesticide exposure and the risk of developing ASD. Methods: We reviewed the available literature concerning the relationship between early life exposure to pesticides used in agriculture, such as organochlorines, organophosphates and pyrethroids, and ASD onset in childhood. We searched on Medline and Scopus for cohort or case–control studies published in English from 1977 to 2020. Results: A total of seven articles were selected for the review. We found a remarkable association between the maternal exposure to pyrethroid, as well as the exposure to organophosphate during pregnancy or in the first years of childhood, and the risk of ASD onset. This association was found to be less evident with organochlorine pesticides. Pregnancy seems to be the time when pesticide exposure appears to have the greatest impact on the onset of ASD in children. Conclusions: Among the different environmental pollutants, pesticides should be considered as emerging risk factors for ASD. The potential association identified between the exposure to pesticides and ASD needs to be implemented and confirmed by further epidemiological studies based on individual assessment both in outdoor and indoor conditions, including multiple confounding factors, and using statistical models that take into account single and multiple pesticide residues.
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31
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Navarro-Pardo E, Suay F, Murphy M. Ageing: Not only an age-related issue. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 199:111568. [PMID: 34536447 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Developments in the last century have led to an unprecedented increase in life expectancy. These changes open opportunities for humans to grow and develop in healthy and adaptive ways, adding life to years as well as years to life. There are also challenges, however - as we live longer, a greater number of people will experience chronic illness and disability, often linked to lifestyle factors. The current paper advances an argument that there are fundamental biological sex differences which, sometimes directly and sometime mediated by lifestyle factors, underpin the marked differences in morbidity and mortality that we find between the sexes. Furthermore, we argue that it is necessary to consider sex as a key factor in research on healthy ageing, allowing for the possibility that different patterns exist between males and females, and that therefore different approaches and interventions are required to optimise healthy ageing in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Navarro-Pardo
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universitat de València, Av. Blasco Ibañez, 21, 46008, València, Spain
| | - Ferran Suay
- Department of Biopsychology, Universitat de València, Av. Blasco Ibañez, 21, 46008, València, Spain
| | - Mike Murphy
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, North Mall Campus, Cork, Ireland.
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Chen YJ, Strodl E, Wu CA, Chen JY, Huang LH, Yin XN, Wen GM, Sun DL, Xian DX, Li CG, Yang GY, Chen WQ. Prenatal maternal stress and autistic-like behaviours in Chinese preschoolers. Stress Health 2021; 37:476-487. [PMID: 33251689 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) has been implicated as a risk factor for a range of psychiatric disorders in children. However, there have been a few studies showing inconsistent associations between PNMS and offspring autistic-like behaviours. We therefore aimed to examine whether trimester-specific PNMS exposure might be related to an increased risk of autistic-like behaviours among preschoolers. Using data from Longhua Children Cohort Study, mothers of 65,931 preschool children were asked to recall their level of PNMS in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy, while children's current autistic-like behaviours were assessed using the Autism Behaviour Checklist. A series of Cox regression models were fitted to assess the association between PNMS exposure and autistic-like behaviours. After adjusting for potential confounders, the Cox regression models showed that PNMS exposure, especially during the second pregnant trimester, was significantly and positively associated with the presence of children's autistic-like behaviours. The strength of these associations was enhanced with the increase of PNMS exposure level. Furthermore, based on different permutations of exposure versus no exposure in each trimester, the participants were divided into eight groups. A cross-over analysis confirmed the aforementioned finding that the second pregnant trimester might be the sensitive period for PNMS exposure increasing the risk of autistic-like behaviours. Our findings supported the hypothesis of an association between PNMS exposure and autistic-like behaviours among preschoolers. Preventive interventions should be trialled to examine whether minimizing maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, especially the second trimester, may reduce the risk of offspring autistic-like behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jie Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Esben Strodl
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queenslad, Australia
| | - Chuan-An Wu
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing-Yi Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Hua Huang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Na Yin
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guo-Min Wen
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Deng-Li Sun
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan-Xia Xian
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chen-Guang Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gui-You Yang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Qing Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Information Management, Xinhua College of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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33
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Tsompanidis A, Aydin E, Padaigaitė E, Richards G, Allison C, Hackett G, Austin T, Holt R, Baron-Cohen S. Maternal steroid levels and the autistic traits of the mother and infant. Mol Autism 2021; 12:51. [PMID: 34238355 PMCID: PMC8268382 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00453-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal sex steroids have been associated with autism in several clinical and epidemiological studies. It is unclear how this relates to the autistic traits of the mother and how early this can be detected during pregnancy and postnatal development. METHODS Maternal serum was collected from pregnant women (n = 122) before or during their first ultrasound appointment [mean = 12.7 (SD = 0.7) weeks]. Concentrations of the following were measured via immunoassays: testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, progesterone; and sex hormone-binding globulin which was used to compute the free fractions of estradiol (FEI) and testosterone (FTI). Standardised human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) values were obtained from clinical records corresponding to the same serum samples. Mothers completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and for their infants, the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) when the infants were between 18 and 20 months old. RESULTS FEI was positively associated with maternal autistic traits in univariate (n = 108, Pearson's r = 0.22, p = 0.019) and multiple regression models (semipartial r = 0.19, p = 0.048) controlling for maternal age and a diagnosis of PCOS. Maternal estradiol levels significantly interacted with fetal sex in predicting infant Q-CHAT scores, with a positive relationship in males but not females (n = 100, interaction term: semipartial r = 0.23, p = 0.036) after controlling for maternal AQ and other covariates. The opposite was found for standardised hCG values and Q-CHAT scores, with a positive association in females but not in males (n = 151, interaction term: r = -0.25, p = 0.005). LIMITATIONS Sample size of this cohort was small, with potential ascertainment bias given elective recruitment. Clinical covariates were controlled in multiple regression models, but additional research is needed to confirm the statistically significant findings in larger cohorts. CONCLUSION Maternal steroid factors during pregnancy are associated with autistic traits in mothers and their infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - E Aydin
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - E Padaigaitė
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - G Richards
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,School of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - G Hackett
- The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - T Austin
- The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - R Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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34
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Denkl B, Cordasic N, Huebner H, Menendez-Castro C, Schmidt M, Mocker A, Woelfle J, Hartner A, Fahlbusch FB. No evidence of the unfolded protein response in the placenta of two rodent models of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:449-463. [PMID: 33955453 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE) are associated with induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR) and increased placental endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Especially in PE, oxidative stress occurs relative to the severity of maternal vascular underperfusion (MVU) of the placental bed. On the premise that understanding the mechanisms of placental dysfunction could lead to targeted therapeutic options for human IUGR and PE, we investigated the roles of the placental UPR and oxidative stress in two rodent models of these human gestational pathologies. We employed a rat IUGR model of gestational maternal protein restriction, as well as an endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mouse model (eNOS-/-) of PE/IUGR. Placental expression of UPR members was analyzed via qRT-PCR (Grp78, Calnexin, Perk, Chop, Atf6, and Ern1), immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting (Calnexin, ATF6, GRP78, CHOP, phospho-eIF2α, and phospho-IRE1). Oxidative stress was determined via Western blotting (3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal). Both animal models showed a significant reduction of fetal and placental weight. These effects did not induce placental UPR. In contrast to human data, results from our rodent models suggest retention of placental plasticity in the setting of ER stress under an adverse gestational environment. Oxidative stress was significantly increased only in female IUGR rat placentas, suggesting a sexually dimorphic response to maternal malnutrition. Our study advances understanding of the involvement of the placental UPR in IUGR and PE. Moreover, it emphasizes the appropriate choice of animal models researching various aspects of these pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Denkl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nada Cordasic
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hanna Huebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Comprehensive Cancer Center EMN, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carlos Menendez-Castro
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marius Schmidt
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Mocker
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Comprehensive Cancer Center EMN, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joachim Woelfle
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Hartner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian B Fahlbusch
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Bátiz LF, Palmeiro-Silva YK, Rice GE, Monteiro LJ, Galaburda AM, Romero R, Choolani MA, Wyneken U, Orellana P, Illanes SE. Maternal exposure to a high-magnitude earthquake during pregnancy influences pre-reading skills in early childhood. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9244. [PMID: 33927303 PMCID: PMC8084950 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88767-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to an adverse prenatal environment can influence fetal development and result in long-lasting changes in the offspring. However, the association between maternal exposure to stressful events during pregnancy and the achievement of pre-reading skills in the offspring is unknown. Here we examined the association between prenatal exposure to the Chilean high-magnitude earthquake that occurred on February 27th, 2010 and the development of early reading precursors skills (listening comprehension, print knowledge, alphabet knowledge, vocabulary, and phonological awareness) in children at kindergarten age. This multilevel retrospective cohort study including 3280 children, of whom 2415 were unexposed and 865 were prenatally exposed to the earthquake shows substantial evidence that maternal exposure to an unambiguously stressful event resulted in impaired pre-reading skills and that a higher detrimental effect was observed in those children who had been exposed to the earthquake during the first trimester of gestation. In addition, females were more significantly affected by the exposure to the earthquake than their male peers in alphabet knowledge; contrarily, males were more affected than females in print knowledge skills. These findings suggest that early intervention programs for pregnant women and/or children exposed to prenatal stress may be effective strategies to overcome impaired pre-reading skills in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Federico Bátiz
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Program in Neuroscience, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yasna K Palmeiro-Silva
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- School of Nursing, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gregory E Rice
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lara J Monteiro
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Program in Biology of Reproduction, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Center for Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Mahesh A Choolani
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ursula Wyneken
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Program in Neuroscience, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pelusa Orellana
- School of Education, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Sebastián E Illanes
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Program in Biology of Reproduction, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
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Impact of prenatal maternal cytokine exposure on sex differences in brain circuitry regulating stress in offspring 45 years later. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2014464118. [PMID: 33876747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014464118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is associated with numerous chronic diseases, beginning in fetal development with in utero exposures (prenatal stress) impacting offspring's risk for disorders later in life. In previous studies, we demonstrated adverse maternal in utero immune activity on sex differences in offspring neurodevelopment at age seven and adult risk for major depression and psychoses. Here, we hypothesized that in utero exposure to maternal proinflammatory cytokines has sex-dependent effects on specific brain circuitry regulating stress and immune function in the offspring that are retained across the lifespan. Using a unique prenatal cohort, we tested this hypothesis in 80 adult offspring, equally divided by sex, followed from in utero development to midlife. Functional MRI results showed that exposure to proinflammatory cytokines in utero was significantly associated with sex differences in brain activity and connectivity during response to negative stressful stimuli 45 y later. Lower maternal TNF-α levels were significantly associated with higher hypothalamic activity in both sexes and higher functional connectivity between hypothalamus and anterior cingulate only in men. Higher prenatal levels of IL-6 were significantly associated with higher hippocampal activity in women alone. When examined in relation to the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-10, the ratio TNF-α:IL-10 was associated with sex-dependent effects on hippocampal activity and functional connectivity with the hypothalamus. Collectively, results suggested that adverse levels of maternal in utero proinflammatory cytokines and the balance of pro- to anti-inflammatory cytokines impact brain development of offspring in a sexually dimorphic manner that persists across the lifespan.
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Antenatal Dexamethasone Treatment Induces Sex-dependent Upregulation of NTPDase1/CD39 and Ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 in the Rat Fetal Brain. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:1965-1981. [PMID: 33761054 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01081-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Dexamethasone (DEX) is frequently used to treat women at risk of preterm delivery, but although indispensable for the completion of organ maturation in the fetus, antenatal DEX treatment may exert adverse sex-dimorphic neurodevelopmental effects. Literature findings implicated oxidative stress in adverse effects of DEX treatment. Purinergic signaling is involved in neurodevelopment and controlled by ectonucleotidases, among which in the brain the most abundant are ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (NTPDase1/CD39) and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (e5'NT/CD73), which jointly dephosphorylate ATP to adenosine. They are also involved in cell adhesion and migration, processes integral to brain development. Upregulation of CD39 and CD73 after DEX treatment was reported in adult rat hippocampus. We investigated the effects of maternal DEX treatment on CD39 and CD73 expression and enzymatic activity in the rat fetal brain of both sexes, in the context of oxidative status of the brain tissue. Fetuses were obtained at embryonic day (ED) 21, from Wistar rat dams treated with 0.5 mg DEX/kg/day, at ED 16, 17, and 18, and brains were processed and used for further analysis. Sex-specific increase in CD39 and CD73 expression and in the corresponding enzyme activities was induced in the brain of antenatally DEX-treated fetuses, more prominently in males. The oxidative stress induction after antenatal DEX treatment was confirmed in both sexes, although showing a slight bias in males. Due to the involvement of purinergic system in crucial neurodevelopmental processes, future investigations are needed to determine the role of these observed changes in the adverse effects of antenatal DEX treatment.
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Dump the "dimorphism": Comprehensive synthesis of human brain studies reveals few male-female differences beyond size. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:667-697. [PMID: 33621637 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With the explosion of neuroimaging, differences between male and female brains have been exhaustively analyzed. Here we synthesize three decades of human MRI and postmortem data, emphasizing meta-analyses and other large studies, which collectively reveal few reliable sex/gender differences and a history of unreplicated claims. Males' brains are larger than females' from birth, stabilizing around 11 % in adults. This size difference accounts for other reproducible findings: higher white/gray matter ratio, intra- versus interhemispheric connectivity, and regional cortical and subcortical volumes in males. But when structural and lateralization differences are present independent of size, sex/gender explains only about 1% of total variance. Connectome differences and multivariate sex/gender prediction are largely based on brain size, and perform poorly across diverse populations. Task-based fMRI has especially failed to find reproducible activation differences between men and women in verbal, spatial or emotion processing due to high rates of false discovery. Overall, male/female brain differences appear trivial and population-specific. The human brain is not "sexually dimorphic."
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39
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Levis SC, Mahler SV, Baram TZ. The Developmental Origins of Opioid Use Disorder and Its Comorbidities. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:601905. [PMID: 33643011 PMCID: PMC7904686 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.601905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) rarely presents as a unitary psychiatric condition, and the comorbid symptoms likely depend upon the diverse risk factors and mechanisms by which OUD can arise. These factors are heterogeneous and include genetic predisposition, exposure to prescription opioids, and environmental risks. Crucially, one key environmental risk factor for OUD is early life adversity (ELA). OUD and other substance use disorders are widely considered to derive in part from abnormal reward circuit function, which is likely also implicated in comorbid mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. ELA may disrupt reward circuit development and function in a manner predisposing to these disorders. Here, we describe new findings addressing the effects of ELA on reward circuitry that lead to OUD and comorbid disorders, potentially via shared neural mechanisms. We discuss some of these OUD-related problems in both humans and animals. We also highlight the increasingly apparent, crucial contribution of biological sex in mediating the range of ELA-induced disruptions of reward circuitry which may confer risk for the development of OUD and comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia C. Levis
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Stephen V. Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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40
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Maternal prenatal stress exposure and sex-specific risk of severe infection in offspring. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245747. [PMID: 33513152 PMCID: PMC7845992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy have been associated with immune dysregulation and increased risk for asthma and atopy in offspring. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal stress is associated with increased overall or specific infectious diseases in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We sought to examine the relationship between the nature and timing of maternal stress in pregnancy and hospitalisation with infection in offspring. Methods Between 1989 and 1992, exposure data on stressful life events were collected from pregnant women (Gen1) in the Raine Study at 18 and 34 weeks’ gestation and linked to statutory state-wide hospital morbidity data. We examined associations between the number, category and timing of maternal prenatal stress events and overall and clinical groups of offspring (Gen2) infection-related hospitalisation until age 16 years, adjusting for maternal age, education, and smoking in pregnancy in addition to the presence of siblings at birth. Results Of 2,141 offspring with complete stress in pregnancy data available, 1,089 had at least one infection-related hospitalisation, with upper respiratory tract infections the most common (n = 556). Each additional stressful life event during pregnancy was associated with increased risk in male offspring for hospitalisation with all infection types. There was little evidence of these associations in girls. Conclusions Increased exposure to stressful life events in utero is associated with sex-specific infection-related hospitalisations in childhood. Prenatal stress may adversely affect early immune development for boys and increase the risk of more severe infections. Mechanistic understanding would inform preventative interventions.
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Imbriani G, Panico A, Grassi T, Idolo A, Serio F, Bagordo F, De Filippis G, De Giorgi D, Antonucci G, Piscitelli P, Colangelo M, Peccarisi L, Tumolo MR, De Masi R, Miani A, De Donno A. Early-Life Exposure to Environmental Air Pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Available Evidence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031204. [PMID: 33572907 PMCID: PMC7908547 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has rapidly increased globally. Genetic and environmental factors both contribute to the development of ASD. Several studies showed linkage between prenatal, early postnatal air pollution exposure and the risk of developing ASD. We reviewed the available literature concerning the relationship between early-life exposure to air pollutants and ASD onset in childhood. We searched on Medline and Scopus for cohort or case-control studies published in English from 1977 to 2020. A total of 20 articles were selected for the review. We found a strong association between maternal exposure to particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy or in the first years of the children’s life and the risk of the ASD. This association was found to be stronger with PM2.5 and less evident with the other pollutants. Current evidence suggest that pregnancy is the period in which exposure to environmental pollutants seems to be most impactful concerning the onset of ASD in children. Air pollution should be considered among the emerging risk factors for ASD. Further epidemiological and toxicological studies should address molecular pathways involved in the development of ASD and determine specific cause–effect associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Imbriani
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
| | - Alessandra Panico
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
| | - Tiziana Grassi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adele Idolo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
| | - Francesca Serio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
| | - Francesco Bagordo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
| | - Giovanni De Filippis
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Medical Professional Association (OMCEO), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Donato De Giorgi
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Medical Professional Association (OMCEO), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Antonucci
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Medical Professional Association (OMCEO), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Medical Professional Association (OMCEO), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Manuela Colangelo
- Italian Association of Health, Environment and Society (AISAS), via De Gasperi 22, Lizzanello, 73023 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Luigi Peccarisi
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Medical Professional Association (OMCEO), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Tumolo
- Research Unit of Brindisi, c/o ex Osp. Di Summa, Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, Piazza Di Summa, 72100 Brindisi, Italy;
- c/o Campus Ecotekne via Monteroni, Branch of Lecce, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Roberto De Masi
- Local Health Authority ASL Le, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.D.F.); (D.D.G.); (G.A.); (P.P.); (L.P.); (R.D.M.)
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, “Francesco Ferrari” Hospital, 73042 Casarano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, 02100 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 02100 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella De Donno
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, via Monteroni 165, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (G.I.); (A.P.); (A.I.); (F.S.); (F.B.); (A.D.D.)
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Using Precision Medicine with a Neurodevelopmental Perspective to Study Inflammation and Depression. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2020; 22:87. [PMID: 33289044 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-020-01206-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To consider various precision medicine approaches to further elucidate the relationship between inflammation and depression and to illustrate how a neurodevelopmental perspective can help in this regard. RECENT FINDINGS Inflammation associates most strongly with phenotypes of depression that reflect illness behavior and/or metabolic dysfunction and obesity. A separate body of research has shown that maternal inflammation during pregnancy can alter brain circuitry important for mood regulation and/or reward in the developing fetus. Our research group is finding that maternal CRP levels differentially predict positive and negative affect in children assessed at age 4 years, depending on the timing of plasma sampling during pregnancy and the sex of the child. Recent authors have stressed the need to use a variety of precision medicine approaches to refine our understanding of inflammation-depression links. Adding a neurodevelopmental perspective may help to address some of the methodological challenges in this active area of study.
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43
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Davis EP, Narayan AJ. Pregnancy as a period of risk, adaptation, and resilience for mothers and infants. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1625-1639. [PMID: 33427164 PMCID: PMC7863987 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420001121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The pregnancy period represents a unique window of opportunity to identify risks to both the fetus and mother and to deter the intergenerational transmission of adversity and mental health problems. Although the maternal-fetal dyad is especially vulnerable to the effects of stress during pregnancy, less is known about how the dyad is also receptive to salutary, resilience-promoting influences. The present review adopts life span and intergenerational perspectives to review four key areas of research. The first part describes how pregnancy is a sensitive period for both the mother and fetus. In the second part, the focus is on antecedents of maternal prenatal risks pertaining to prenatal stress response systems and mental health. The third part then turns to elucidating how these alterations in prenatal stress physiology and mental health problems may affect infant and child outcomes. The fourth part underscores how pregnancy is also a time of heightened fetal receptivity to maternal and environmental signals, with profound implications for adaptation. This section also reviews empirical evidence of promotive and protective factors that buffer the mother and fetus from developmental and adaptational problems and covers a sample of rigorous evidence-based prenatal interventions that prevent maladaptation in the maternal-fetal dyad before babies are born. Finally, recommendations elaborate on how to further strengthen understanding of pregnancy as a period of multilevel risk and resilience, enhance comprehensive prenatal screening, and expand on prenatal interventions to promote maternal-fetal adaptation before birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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Arévalo L, Gardner S, Campbell P. Haldane's rule in the placenta: Sex-biased misregulation of the Kcnq1 imprinting cluster in hybrid mice. Evolution 2020; 75:86-100. [PMID: 33215684 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid phenotypes that contribute to postzygotic reproductive isolation often exhibit pronounced asymmetry, both between reciprocal crosses and between the sexes in accordance with Haldane's rule. Inviability in mammalian hybrids is associated with parent-of-origin placental growth abnormalities for which misregulation of imprinted gene (IGs) is the leading candidate mechanism. However, direct evidence for the involvement of IGs in hybrid growth dysplasia is limited. We used transcriptome and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing to conduct the first genome-scale assessment of the contribution of IGs to parent-of-origin placental growth dysplasia in the cross between the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) and the Algerian mouse (Mus spretus). IGs with transgressive expression and methylation were concentrated in the Kcnq1 cluster, which contains causal genes for prenatal growth abnormalities in mice and humans. Hypermethylation of the cluster's imprinting control region, and consequent misexpression of the genes Phlda2 and Ascl2, is a strong candidate mechanism for transgressive placental undergrowth. Transgressive placental and gene regulatory phenotypes, including expression and methylation in the Kcnq1 cluster, were more extreme in hybrid males. Although consistent with Haldane's rule, male-biased defects are unexpected in rodent placenta because the X-chromosome is effectively hemizygous in both sexes. In search of an explanation, we found evidence of leaky imprinted (paternal) X-chromosome inactivation in hybrid female placenta, an epigenetic disturbance that may buffer females from the effects of X-linked incompatibilities to which males are fully exposed. Sex differences in chromatin structure on the X and sex-biased maternal effects are nonmutually exclusive alternative explanations for adherence to Haldane's rule in hybrid placenta. The results of this study contribute to understanding the genetic basis of hybrid inviability in mammals, and the role of IGs in speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Arévalo
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078.,Current Address: Department of Developmental Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, DE-53127, Germany
| | - Sarah Gardner
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078.,Current Address: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, 92521
| | - Polly Campbell
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078.,Current Address: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, 92521
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Konzman D, Abramowitz LK, Steenackers A, Mukherjee MM, Na HJ, Hanover JA. O-GlcNAc: Regulator of Signaling and Epigenetics Linked to X-linked Intellectual Disability. Front Genet 2020; 11:605263. [PMID: 33329753 PMCID: PMC7719714 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.605263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular identity in multicellular organisms is maintained by characteristic transcriptional networks, nutrient consumption, energy production and metabolite utilization. Integrating these cell-specific programs are epigenetic modifiers, whose activity is often dependent on nutrients and their metabolites to function as substrates and co-factors. Emerging data has highlighted the role of the nutrient-sensing enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) as an epigenetic modifier essential in coordinating cellular transcriptional programs and metabolic homeostasis. OGT utilizes the end-product of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway to modify proteins with O-linked β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). The levels of the modification are held in check by the O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Studies from model organisms and human disease underscore the conserved function these two enzymes of O-GlcNAc cycling play in transcriptional regulation, cellular plasticity and mitochondrial reprogramming. Here, we review these findings and present an integrated view of how O-GlcNAc cycling may contribute to cellular memory and transgenerational inheritance of responses to parental stress. We focus on a rare human genetic disorder where mutant forms of OGT are inherited or acquired de novo. Ongoing analysis of this disorder, OGT- X-linked intellectual disability (OGT-XLID), provides a window into how epigenetic factors linked to O-GlcNAc cycling may influence neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - John A. Hanover
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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46
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Examining Sex Differences in the Human Placental Transcriptome During the First Fetal Androgen Peak. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:801-818. [PMID: 33150487 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in human placenta exist from early pregnancy to term, however, it is unclear whether these differences are driven solely by sex chromosome complement or are subject to differential sex hormonal regulation. Here, we survey the human chorionic villus (CV) transcriptome for sex-linked signatures from 11 to 16 gestational weeks, corresponding to the first window of increasing testis-derived androgen production in male fetuses. Illumina HiSeq RNA sequencing was performed on Lexogen Quantseq 3' libraries derived from CV biopsies (n = 11 females, n = 12 males). Differential expression (DE) was performed to identify sex-linked transcriptional signatures, followed by chromosome mapping, pathway analysis, predicted protein interaction, and post-hoc linear regressions to identify transcripts that trend over time. We observe 322 transcripts DE between male and female CV from 11 to 16 weeks, with 22 transcripts logFC > 1. Contrary to our predictions, the difference between male and female expression of DE autosomal genes was more pronounced at the earlier gestational ages. In females, we found selective upregulation of extracellular matrix components, along with a number of X-linked genes. In males, DE transcripts centered on chromosome 19, with mitochondrial, immune, and pregnancy maintenance-related transcripts upregulated. Among the highest differentially expressed autosomal genes were CCRL2, LGALS13, and LGALS14, which are known to regulate immune cell interactions. Our results provide insight into sex-linked gene expression in late first and early second trimester developing human placenta and lay the groundwork to understand the mechanistic origins of sex differences in prenatal development.
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47
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Perry CJ, Campbell EJ, Drummond KD, Lum JS, Kim JH. Sex differences in the neurochemistry of frontal cortex: Impact of early life stress. J Neurochem 2020; 157:963-981. [PMID: 33025572 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic events during early life have been linked with later life psychopathology. To understand this risk factor, researchers have studied the effects of prenatal and postnatal early life stress on neurochemical changes. Here we review the rodent literature on sex differences and sex-specific impact of early life stress on frontal cortex neurochemistry. This region is implicated in regulating motivation and emotion, which are often disrupted in psychological disorders. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) in particular is one of the last brain regions to develop, and there are sex differences in the rate of this development. To draw direct comparisons between sexes, our review of the literature was restricted to studies where the effects of prenatal or postnatal stress had been described in male and female littermates. This literature included research describing glutamate, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), corticosteroids, monoamines, and cannabinoids. We found that sex-dependent effects of stress are mediated by the age at which stress is experienced, age at test, and type of stress endured. More research is required, particularly into the effects of adolescent stress on male and female littermates. We hope that a greater understanding of sex-specific susceptibilities in response to stress across development will help to uncover risk factors for psychological disorders in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Perry
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Erin J Campbell
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Katherine D Drummond
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Lum
- Neuropharmacology and Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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48
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Prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety predicts boys' ADHD symptoms via placental C-reactive protein. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104797. [PMID: 32682173 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many modes of stress (i.e. life events, catastrophic events) during pregnancy have been found to increase the risk of externalizing behaviors, and probably in a sex-specific way. Maternal immune activation may be the sex-difference mechanism, but direct evidence that assess three factors in conjunction -- maternal stress, maternal immune activation, and offspring neurodevelopment --from human beings is lacking. This prospective study followed 2926 pregnant women from early pregnancy to 36 months after delivery. Pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms assessment was completed three times using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire; child attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were assessed by the parent version of the Conners' Hyperactivity Index. More importantly, nine inflammatory cytokines were detected in placental tissues for the sex-difference mechanism investigation. Our results showed that after controlling for confounding factors, pregnancy-related anxiety during at least two trimesters of pregnancy increased the risk of ADHD for boys (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.37, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) = 1.78-6.38), but not for girls (aOR = 1.02, 95 %CI = 0.44-2.38), which confirmed previous findings. Besides, the structural equation models revealed that placental C-reactive protein (CRP) mRNA expression significantly mediated the association between pregnancy-related anxiety and ADHD for boys (indirect effect: β = 0.025, P = 0.022), but not for girls (indirect effect: β = 0.005, P = 0.589). This prospective study suggested that frequent pregnancy-related anxiety during pregnancy and its induced-placental inflammation partially contributed to the sex-bias of ADHD symptoms.
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Wilson HA, Creighton C, Scharfman H, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ. Endocrine Insights into the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:650-667. [PMID: 32912048 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420952046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a class of neurodevelopmental disorders that affects males more frequently than females. Numerous genetic and environmental risk factors have been suggested to contribute to the development of ASD. However, no one factor can adequately explain either the frequency of the disorder or the male bias in its prevalence. Gonadal, thyroid, and glucocorticoid hormones all contribute to normal development of the brain, hence perturbations in either their patterns of secretion or their actions may constitute risk factors for ASD. Environmental factors may contribute to ASD etiology by influencing the development of neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems during early life. Emerging evidence suggests that the placenta may be particularly important as a mediator of the actions of environmental and endocrine risk factors on the developing brain, with the male being particularly sensitive to these effects. Understanding how various risk factors integrate to influence neural development may facilitate a clearer understanding of the etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley A Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn Creighton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Helen Scharfman
- Departments of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neil J MacLusky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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50
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Lehtola SJ, Tuulari JJ, Scheinin NM, Karlsson L, Parkkola R, Merisaari H, Lewis JD, Fonov VS, Louis Collins D, Evans A, Saunavaara J, Hashempour N, Lähdesmäki T, Acosta H, Karlsson H. Newborn amygdalar volumes are associated with maternal prenatal psychological distress in a sex-dependent way. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 28:102380. [PMID: 32805677 PMCID: PMC7453059 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy (PPD)1 has been associated with changes in offspring amygdalar and hippocampal volumes. Studies on child amygdalae suggest that sex moderates the vulnerability of fetal brains to prenatal stress. However, this has not yet been observed in these structures in newborns. Newborn studies are crucial, as they minimize the confounding influence of postnatal life. We investigated the effects of maternal prenatal psychological symptoms on newborn amygdalar and hippocampal volumes and their interactions with newborn sex in 123 newborns aged 2-5 weeks (69 males, 54 females). Based on earlier studies, we anticipated small, but statistically significant effects of PPD on the volumes of these structures. Maternal psychological distress was measured at gestational weeks (GW)2 14, 24 and 34 using Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90, anxiety scale)3 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)4 questionnaires. Newborn sex was found to moderate the relationship between maternal distress symptoms at GW 24 and the volumes of left and right amygdala. This relationship was negative and significant only in males. No significant main effect or sex-based moderation was found for hippocampal volumes. This newborn study provides evidence for a sex-dependent influence of maternal psychiatric symptoms on amygdalar structural development. This association may be relevant to later psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu J Lehtola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Merisaari
- Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vladimir S Fonov
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - D Louis Collins
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alan Evans
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jani Saunavaara
- Department of Medical Physics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Niloofar Hashempour
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuire Lähdesmäki
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Henriette Acosta
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
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