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Ma K, Zhu M, Zhang A, Zuo M, Huang Y, Wan Y, Tao F, Sun Y. Intergenerational continuation of parent-child separation and 1-year telomere length attrition among mother-offspring dyads in rural China: The moderating effects of resilience. J Affect Disord 2024; 368:599-606. [PMID: 39303890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.098] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although stressor exposure early in life was known risk factor for telomere length (TL) attrition, limited literature explored it across generations. Furthermore, the effects of resilience have rarely been examined. Here, we examined whether the effects of intergenerational parent-child separation on offspring 1-year TL attrition vary by the levels of resilience. METHOD In a sample of 342 mother-child dyads living in rural China, the intergenerational continuation of parent-child separation was defined as the two generations both experiencing parent-child separation from both parents for >6 months a year early in life assessed by the parent-reported questionnaire, whereas intergenerational discontinuity refers to parent-child separation exposed in one generation only. TL was measured at baseline (from June to November 2021) and 1-year later with children's buccal mucosa swabs, with resilience polygenic risk scores (PRS) evaluated based on 4 single-nucleotide variations in 4 resilience-related genes (OXTR, FKBP5, NPY, and TNF-α). RESULTS Among 342 mother-offspring dyads, 35 (10.2 %) experienced intergenerational continuation of parent-child separation, and 139 (40.6 %) were identified as discontinuous. Remarkably, a 0.12-point reduction in TL attrition was only associated with intergenerational continuation of parent-child separation (95 % CI: 0.04, 0.21, P < 0.01) but not discontinuity. Importantly, the association between intergenerational continuation of parent-child separation with accelerated TL attrition disappeared in offspring with high resilience PRS (β = 0.07, 95%CI: -0.06, 0.21). CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the importance of breaking the intergenerational cycle of parent-child separation and the moderating effects of resilience on TL attrition for children exposed to adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ma
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 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; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Wuhu Maternity & Child Health Care Center, Wuhu 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Anhui Zhang
- Wuhu Maternity & Child Health Care Center, Wuhu 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Min Zuo
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 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; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yongling Huang
- Anhui Provincial Center for Woman and Child Health, Hefei 230061, Anhui, China
| | - Yuhui Wan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 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; 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, Hefei, Anhui Province, 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; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Medical University, School of Public Health, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 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; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Medical University, School of Public Health, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, China.
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Dratwa-Kuzmin M, Hadra BA, Oguz F, Ogret Y, Constantinescu I, Apostol D, Talangescu A, Constantinescu AE, Maruntelu I, Kościńska K, Lukanov T, Naumova E, Bogunia-Kubik K. Telomere Length, HLA, and Longevity-Results from a Multicenter Study. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9457. [PMID: 39273401 PMCID: PMC11395078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179457] [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: 07/26/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is an exceptionally complex process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Previous studies within the International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop (IHIWS) component "Immunogenetics of Ageing" showed that longevity is associated with positive selection of HLA-DRB1*11- and DRB1*16-associated haplotypes, shown to be protective against diseases. Within the 18th IHIWS, we aimed to investigate the relevance of telomere length for successful aging and its association with classical HLAs. In total 957 individuals from Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, and Poland in two age groups, elderly individuals (age 65-99 years) and ethnically matched young group (age 18-64 years), were investigated. The obtained results confirmed interpopulation differences in the distribution of HLA alleles, documented the lengths of telomeres in analyzed populations, and demonstrated significant associations of telomere length with aging as well as with the presence of some HLA class I or class II alleles. They suggest that telomere length assessment combined with HLA genotyping may help identify immunogenetic profiles associated with longevity. The associations between HLA and telomeres support the theory that HLA genes influence the aging process. However, further research is needed to clarify the biological basis of the observed relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dratwa-Kuzmin
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfled Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bushra Al Hadra
- Clinic of Clinical Immunology and Stem Cell Bank, University Hospital Alexandrovska, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Fatma Oguz
- Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yeliz Ogret
- Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ileana Constantinescu
- Centre for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dimitri Apostol
- Centre for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adriana Talangescu
- Centre for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra-Elena Constantinescu
- Centre for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ion Maruntelu
- Centre for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Katarzyna Kościńska
- HLA Laboratory, Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center, 54-049 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tsvetelin Lukanov
- Clinic of Clinical Immunology and Stem Cell Bank, University Hospital Alexandrovska, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Elissaveta Naumova
- Clinic of Clinical Immunology and Stem Cell Bank, University Hospital Alexandrovska, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfled Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
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Sheng Y, Liang S, Wu S, Shao Y, Qiu X, Liu S, Huang D, Pan D, Wang L, Juan JTH, Zeng X. Sex-specific effects of maternal blood pressure on newborn telomere length: A prospective study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024. [PMID: 38899963 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between maternal blood pressure (BP) and neonatal cord blood telomere length (TL) during pregnancy, and to clarify the sensitive period. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study with 621 mother-newborn pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort (GZBC) in China. Multiple informant models, restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) models, and quantile regression models were conducted to analyze the correlation between maternal BP and neonatal TL. RESULTS Maternal diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was inversely related to neonatal cord blood TL in the second trimester (P = 0.015) and the third trimester (P = 0.011). There was a male-specific relationship between maternal BP and neonatal TL. A 1 mmHg increment in maternal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP during the second trimester was related with 0.42% (95% CI: -0.80%, -0.04%) and 0.61% (95% CI: -1.13%, -0.09%) shorter TL in male newborns, respectively. Per unit increase of maternal DBP during the third trimester was related with 0.54% (95% CI: -1.03%, -0.05%) shorter TL in male newborns. Pregnant women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP) had male offspring with shorter TL (P = 0.003). However, no significant relationships were found in female newborns (P = 0.570). CONCLUSION Maternal BP during pregnancy is inversely correlated with male neonatal TL and the second and third trimesters are sensitive windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Sheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Si Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Siqian Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yantao Shao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health & Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Dongxiang Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | | | - Xiaoyun Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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Zhang X, Colicino E, Cowell W, Enlow MB, Kloog I, Coull BA, Schwartz JD, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Prenatal exposure to air pollution and BWGA Z-score: Modifying effects of placenta leukocyte telomere length and infant sex. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:117986. [PMID: 38145728 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), have been associated with adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, often exhibiting sex-specific effects. However, the modifying effect of placental telomere length (TL), reflecting cumulative lifetime oxidative stress in mothers, remains unexplored. METHOD Using data from a Northeastern U.S. birth cohort (n = 306), we employed linear regression and weighted quantile sum models to assess trimester-average air pollution exposures and birth weight for gestational age (BWGA) z-scores. Placental TL, categorized by median split, was considered as an effect modifier. Interactions among air pollutants, placental TL, infant sex, and BWGA z-score were evaluated. RESULTS Without placental TL as a modifier, only 1st trimester O3 was significantly associated with BWGA z-scores (coefficient: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.63). In models considering TL interactions, a significant modifying effect was observed between 3rd trimester NO2 and BWGA z-scores (interaction p-value = 0.02). Specifically, a one interquartile range (1-IQR) increase in 3rd trimester NO2 was linked to a 0.28 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.52) change in BWGA z-score among shorter placental TL group, with no significant association among longer TL group. Among male infants, there were significant associations between 3rd trimester PM2.5 exposure and BWGA z-scores in the longer TL group (coefficient: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.61, -0.02), and between 1st trimester O3 exposure and BWGA z-scores among males in the shorter TL group (coefficient: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.08). For females, only a negative association in 2nd trimester mixture model was observed within the longer TL group (coefficient: -0.10, 95% CI: -0.21, -0.01). CONCLUSION These findings highlight the need to consider the complex interactions among prenatal air pollutant exposures, placental TL, and fetal sex to better elucidate those at greatest risk for adverse birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Zhang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; The Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; The Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; The Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Enlow MB, De Vivo I, Petty CR, Nelson CA. Temperament and sex as moderating factors of the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38426330 PMCID: PMC11366042 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in sensitivity to context are posited to emerge early in development and to influence the effects of environmental exposures on a range of developmental outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that temperament characteristics and biological sex confer differential vulnerability to the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Telomere length has emerged as a potentially important biomarker of current and future health, with possible mechanistic involvement in the onset of various disease states. Participants comprised a community sample of children followed from infancy to age 3 years. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected at infancy, 2 years, and 3 years. Maternal depressive symptoms and the child temperament traits of negative affectivity, surgency/extraversion, and regulation/effortful control were assessed via maternal report at each timepoint. Analyses revealed a 3-way interaction among surgency/extraversion, sex, and maternal depressive symptoms, such that higher surgency/extraversion was associated with shorter telomere length specifically among males exposed to elevated maternal depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that temperament and sex influence children's susceptibility to the effects of maternal depression on telomere dynamics in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Epidemiology, Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Charles A. Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston, MA
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Ahlers NE, Lin J, Weiss SJ. WITHDRAWN: Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.09.17.23295692. [PMID: 37790308 PMCID: PMC10543047 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.23295692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author. The authors have an approved version for citation that is peer reviewed. Ahlers, N.E.; Lin, J.; Weiss, S.J. Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. Air 2024, 2, 24-37. https://doi.org/10.3390/air2010002.
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Etzel L, Garrett-Petters P, Shalev I. Early origins of health and disease risk: The case for investigating adverse exposures and biological aging in utero, across childhood, and into adolescence. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2023; 17:149-156. [PMID: 38706692 PMCID: PMC11068077 DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12488] [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: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
In this article, we suggest that aging and development are two sides of the same coin, and that developing a comprehensive understanding of health and disease risk requires examining age-related processes occurring throughout the earliest years of life. Compared to other periods in life, during this early period of acute vulnerability, when children's biological and regulatory systems are developing, biological aging occurs most rapidly. We review theory and empirical research suggesting that processes of development and aging are intricately linked, and that early adversity may program biological parameters for accelerated aging and disease risk early in life, even though clinical signs of age-related disease onset may not be evident until many years later. Following from this, we make the case for widespread incorporation of biological aging constructs into child development research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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David AT, Sharma V, Bittencourt L, Gurka KK, Perez-Carreño JG, Lopez-Quintero C. Exploring the associations between serious psychological distress and the quantity or frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States. Prev Med 2023; 177:107770. [PMID: 37951544 PMCID: PMC11099898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107770] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) and prenatal exposure to substances are associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and their developing offspring. This study aims to examine the relationship between SPD and quantity, or frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the United States (US). Descriptive and negative binomial regression analyses of the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were conducted among 3373 pregnant women (18 to 44 years old) to examine the association between SPD and (1) average number of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days, (2) number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days, and (3) number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days. About 6% of the study population experienced SPD in the past 30 days. Compared to pregnant women who did not report SPD, pregnant women experiencing SPD showed greater rates in the number of cigarettes smoked during the past 30 days (IRR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.1, 4.5), the number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days (IRR = 5.1, 95%CI = 1.7, 15.4), and the number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days (IRR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.3, 6.5). Our results extend findings from prior research by documenting an association between SPD and the quantity and frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the US. Individual and structural interventions addressing SPD and/or substance might help reduce the impact of these comorbid conditions on expectant parents and their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayomide T David
- University of Florida, Department of Epidemiology, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
| | - Vinita Sharma
- Boise State University, School of Public and Population Health, Boise, ID 83725-1835, United States of America.
| | - Lorna Bittencourt
- University of Minnesota, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America
| | - Kelly K Gurka
- University of Florida, Department of Epidemiology, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
| | - Juan Guillermo Perez-Carreño
- University of Florida, Department of Epidemiology, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
| | - Catalina Lopez-Quintero
- University of Florida, Department of Epidemiology, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
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Gold NM, Okeke MN, He Y. Involvement of Inheritance in Determining Telomere Length beyond Environmental and Lifestyle Factors. Aging Dis 2023:AD.2023.1023. [PMID: 37962459 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
All linear chromosomal ends have specific DNA-protein complexes called telomeres. Telomeres serve as a "molecular clock" to estimate the potential length of cell replication. Shortening of telomere length (TL) is associated with cellular senescence, aging, and various age-related diseases in humans. Here we reviewed the structure, function, and regulation of telomeres and the age-related diseases associated with telomere attrition. Among the various determinants of TL, we highlight the connection between TL and heredity to provide a new overview of genetic determinants for TL. Studies across multiple species have shown that maternal and paternal TL influence the TL of their offspring, and this may affect life span and their susceptibility to age-related diseases. Hence, we reviewed the linkage between TL and parental influences and the proposed mechanisms involved. More in-depth studies on the genetic mechanism for TL attrition are needed due to the potential application of this knowledge in human medicine to prevent premature frailty at its earliest stage, as well as promote health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naheemat Modupeola Gold
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Michael Ngozi Okeke
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Nanomedical Technology Research, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Evolution and Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Prasad A, Lin J, Jelliffe-Pawlowski L, Coleman-Phox K, Rand L, Wojcicki JM. Sub-optimal maternal gestational gain is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length at birth in a predominantly Latinx cohort of newborns. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol 2023; 9:14. [PMID: 37919818 PMCID: PMC10623801 DOI: 10.1186/s40748-023-00167-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess in utero exposures associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at birth and maternal LTL in a primarily Latinx birth cohort. STUDY DESIGN Mothers and newborns were recruited postnatally before 24 h of life. Newborn LTL was collected via heelstick at birth and maternal LTL was collected postnatally. LTL was determined by quantitative PCR. Using a longitudinal design, we evaluated associations between neonatal and maternal LTL and appropriate maternal gestational gain as indicated by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). RESULT Mean infant LTL was 2.02 ± 0.30 T/S (n = 386) and maternal LTL was 1.54 ± 0.26 T/S (n = 58). Independent risk factors for shorter LTL at birth included longer gestational duration (Coeff:-0.03, 95%CI: -0.05-0.01;p < 0.01) and maternal gestational weight gain below ACOG recommendations (Coeff:-0.10, 95%CI: -0.18 - -0.02; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Gestational weight gain below ACOG recommendations may adversely impact neonatal health in Latinx infants as indicated by shorter LTL at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Prasad
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski
- Preterm Birth Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Kimberley Coleman-Phox
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Larry Rand
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Janet M Wojcicki
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
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11
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Naudé PJW, Stein DJ, Lin J, Zar HJ. Investigating the association of prenatal psychological adversities with mother and child telomere length and neurodevelopment. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:675-685. [PMID: 37591348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.074] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to prenatal maternal psychological adversities can negatively affect the offspring's developing brain. Shortened telomere length (TL) has been implicated as a mechanism for the transgenerational effects of maternal psychological adversities on offspring. This study aimed to determine associations between prenatal psychological stressors and distress with maternal and early life TL, and associations between maternal, newborn and child TL with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. METHODS Follow-up TL was measured in a subgroup of African mothers (n = 138) and their newborns (n = 142) and children (n = 96) at 2-years in the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Prenatal symptoms of depression, distress, intimate partner violence, posttraumatic stress-disorder and childhood trauma were measured at 27 weeks gestation. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 2 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. TLs were measured in whole bloods from mothers and their children at 2-years, and cord bloods in newborns. RESULTS Maternal prenatal stressors and distress were not significantly associated with TL in mothers or their children at birth or at 2-years. Furthermore, maternal psychological measures were not associated with early-life attrition of TL. Longer TL in children at 2-years was associated (p = 0.04) with higher motor functioning. LIMITATIONS Limited numbers of participants and single time-point psychological measures. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to provide information on the association of early life TL with prenatal psychological adversities and neurodevelopmental outcomes in a population of low-income African mothers and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrus J W Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; SA-MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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12
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Köhler-Dauner F, Peter L, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Buchheim A. The role of attachment representation in the relationship between childhood maltreatment, mental health and parental load: A mediation analysis. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 144:106334. [PMID: 37454555 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Köhler-Dauner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Lena Peter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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13
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Mayer SE, Guan J, Lin J, Hamlat E, Parker JE, Brownell K, Price C, Mujahid M, Tomiyama AJ, Slavich GM, Laraia BA, Epel ES. Intergenerational effects of maternal lifetime stressor exposure on offspring telomere length in Black and White women. Psychol Med 2023; 53:6171-6182. [PMID: 36457292 PMCID: PMC10235210 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722003397] [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] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although maternal stressor exposure has been associated with shorter telomere length (TL) in offspring, this literature is based largely on White samples. Furthermore, timing of maternal stressors has rarely been examined. Here, we examined how maternal stressors occurring during adolescence, pregnancy, and across the lifespan related to child TL in Black and White mothers. METHOD Mothers (112 Black; 110 White; Mage = 39) and their youngest offspring (n = 222; Mage = 8) were part of a larger prospective cohort study, wherein mothers reported their stressors during adolescence (assessed twice during adolescence for the past year), pregnancy (assessed in midlife for most recent pregnancy), and across their lifespan (assessed in midlife). Mother and child provided saliva for TL measurement. Multiple linear regression models examined the interaction of maternal stressor exposure and race in relation to child TL, controlling for maternal TL and child gender and age. Race-stratified analyses were also conducted. RESULTS Neither maternal adolescence nor lifespan stressors interacted with race in relation to child TL. In contrast, greater maternal pregnancy stressors were associated with shorter child TL, but this effect was present for children of White but not Black mothers. Moreover, this effect was significant for financial but not social pregnancy stressors. Race-stratified models revealed that greater financial pregnancy stressors predicted shorter telomeres in offspring of White, but not Black mothers. CONCLUSIONS Race and maternal stressors interact and are related to biological aging across generations, but these effects are specific to certain races, stressors, and exposure time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie E. Mayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA
| | - Joanna Guan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Elissa Hamlat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA
| | - Jordan E. Parker
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kristy Brownell
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Candice Price
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mahasin Mujahid
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - A. Janet Tomiyama
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Barbara A. Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA
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14
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Foss S, Petty CR, Howell C, Mendonca J, Bosse A, Waber DP, Wright RJ, Enlow MB. Associations among maternal lifetime trauma, psychological symptoms in pregnancy, and infant stress reactivity and regulation. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1714-1731. [PMID: 35678173 PMCID: PMC9732151 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Maternal trauma has intergenerational implications, including worse birth outcomes, altered brain morphology, and poorer mental health. Research investigating intergenerational effects of maternal trauma on infant stress reactivity and regulation is limited. Maternal mental health during pregnancy may be a contributor: psychopathology is a sequela of trauma exposure and predictor of altered self-regulatory capacity in offspring of affected mothers. We assessed associations among maternal lifetime trauma and infant stress responsivity, mediated by psychological symptoms in pregnancy. Mothers reported lifetime trauma history and anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms during pregnancy. At infant age 6 months, stress reactivity and regulation were assessed via maternal behavior ratings (Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, IBQ-R) and behavioral (negative mood) and physiological (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA) markers during a laboratory stressor (Still-Face Paradigm). Maternal trauma was directly associated with lower infant physiological regulation and indirectly associated with lower levels of both infant behavioral and physiological regulation via higher maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Maternal trauma was also indirectly associated with higher infant reactivity via higher maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Post hoc analyses indicated differential contributions of maternal prenatal versus postnatal anxiety to infant outcomes. Findings highlight potential contributory mechanisms toward maladaptive child stress response, which has been associated with poor behavioral, cognitive, and academic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Foss
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline Howell
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juliana Mendonca
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abigail Bosse
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah P. Waber
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Kravis Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Li X, Liu H, Wan H, Li Y, Xu S, Xiao H, Xia W. Sex-specific associations between legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and telomere length in newborns in Wuhan, China: Mixture and single pollutant associations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159676. [PMID: 36283531 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) at birth predicts later life TL and is related to health. Prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants might affect TL, but the associations between intrauterine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure and neonatal TL remained inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the single pollutant and mixture associations between legacy and novel PFASs and TL in newborns. In 908 mother-newborn pairs from Wuhan, China, thirteen PFASs were measured in cord serum, and TL was determined in cord leukocytes. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and generalized linear model (GLM) were utilized to analyze the associations between PFASs mixture and single PFASs and TL in newborns. Furthermore, stratified and interaction analyses were performed to evaluate if there were sex-specific associations. The concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) ranked the highest (geometric mean, 4.12, 1.61, and 0.77 ng/mL, respectively) among the 13 measured PFASs. Each unit increase in WQS index of PFASs mixture was associated with -5.19 % change (95% CI, -9.44, -0.73) of neonatal TL, and 8:2 Cl-PFESA contributed most (32.59 %) to the mixture association. In stratified analyses by neonatal sex, PFOS (-4.73 % change, 95% CI, -8.40, -0.93 for per doubling concentration) and 8:2 Cl-PFESA (-4.52 % change, 95% CI, -8.20, -0.70) were negatively associated with neonatal TL in male newborns, but no significant association appeared in females. In summary, intrauterine exposure to PFASs in mixture was associated with shorter neonatal TL, and the negative associations of 8:2 Cl-PFESA and PFOS with neonatal TL were observed only in boys. Future risk assessments are needed to pay more attention to the health effects of novel PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Hongxiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Hongxia Wan
- Ningguo Meilin Hospital, Ningguo, Anhui 242321, PR China.
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China.
| | - Han Xiao
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
| | - Wei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China.
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16
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Qureshi F, Aris IM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Perng W, Oken E, Rich-Edwards J, Cardenas A, Baccarelli AA, Enlow MB, Belfort MB, Tiemeier H. Associations of cord blood leukocyte telomere length with adiposity growth from infancy to adolescence. Pediatr Obes 2023; 18:e12977. [PMID: 36085441 PMCID: PMC9772131 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12977] [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: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) may be a biomarker for chronic disease susceptibility, but no work has tested this hypothesis directly. Our study investigated associations of LTL at birth with markers of adiposity growth that are linked with cardiometabolic health later in life. METHODS Participants were 375 children in Project Viva (48% female, 71% White). Body mass index (BMI) trajectories from birth to 18 years were tracked using repeated measures of BMI collected in physical examinations and via medical records, then used to predict age (months) and magnitude (kg/m2 ) of BMI peak and rebound. LTL was measured from cord blood via duplex quantitative PCR. A binary variable indicating LTL shorter than the reference population average was the primary exposure. RESULTS LTL was unrelated to BMI at peak or rebound, but associations were apparent with the timing of BMI growth milestones. Short LTL was related to a later age of peak for females (β = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.16, 1.82; psex interaction = 0.015) and an earlier age of rebound for both males and females (βcombined = -5.26, 95% CI = -9.44, -1.08). CONCLUSION LTL at birth may be an early biomarker of altered adiposity growth. Newborn telomere biology may shed new insight into the developmental origins of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Qureshi
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Izzuddin M Aris
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wei Perng
- Department of Epidemiology, Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Janet Rich-Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Laboratory of Environmental Epigenetics, Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mandy B Belfort
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Kertes DA, Leri J, Duan K, Tarrence J, Browning C, Pickler R, Ford J. Demographic and health predictors of telomere length during adolescence. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22311. [PMID: 36282763 PMCID: PMC9749139 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22311] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is proposed to play a mechanistic role in how the exposome affects health outcomes. Little is known about TL during adolescence, a developmental period during which precursors of adult-onset health problems often emerge. We examined health and demographic sources of variation in TL in 899 youth aged 11-17. Demographic and health information included age, sex, race, household income, caregiver age and marital status, youth tobacco exposure, body mass index, pubertal status, health problems, medication use, and season of data collection. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva, and T/S ratios were computed following qPCR. Age, race, season of data collection, and household income were associated with the telomere to single copy (T/S) ratio. We found that T/S ratios were larger at younger ages, among Black youth, for saliva collected during autumn and winter, and among households with higher income. Analyses stratified by race revealed that the association between age and T/S ratio was present for Black youth, that season of collection was present across races, but that family demographic associations with T/S ratio varied by race. The results provide information for future telomere research and highlight adolescence as a potentially important developmental phase for racial disparities in telomere shortening and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlene A. Kertes
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John Leri
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ke Duan
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jake Tarrence
- Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Rita Pickler
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jodi Ford
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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18
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Lu J, Hao X, Zhu L, Guo Y, Wu X, Hao J, Tao F, Huang K. Non-Linear and Sex-Specific Effect of Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI on Emotional and Behavioral Development of Preschool Children: A Population-Based Cohort Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13414. [PMID: 36293994 PMCID: PMC9603610 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim was to examine the non-linear and sex-specific outcomes of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI on emotional and behavioral development of preschool children; (2) Methods: This study was based on the China-Anhui Birth Cohort (C-ABCS), including 3648 mother-child pairs. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated from the maternal pre-pregnancy height and weight measured at the first antenatal checkup. Main caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess children's preschool emotional and behavioral development. A restricted cubic spline model was drawn using Stata version 15.1 to analyze the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and preschoolers' SDQ scores by sex; (3) Results: Among boys, maternal pre-pregnancy underweight was associated with the increased risk of conduct problems and pro-social behaviors, and pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity related with the increased risk of peer problems. Interestingly, when maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was between 18.50 kg/m2 and 18.67 kg/m2, boys had the increased risk of conduct problems. When pre-pregnancy BMI was between 18.50 kg/m2 and 19.57 kg/m2, boys had the increased risk of pro-social problems. No significant associations were observed; (4) Conclusions: A non-linear effect of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI on emotional and behavioral development has been found in preschool boys. In particular, pre-pregnancy normal weight may still affect boys' emotional and behavioral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingru Lu
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - Xuemei Hao
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - Linlin Zhu
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - Yufan Guo
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - Jiahu Hao
- 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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
| | - 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, 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, Hefei 230032, China
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19
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Foss S, So RP, Petty CR, Waber DP, Wright RJ, Bosquet Enlow M. Effects of Maternal and Child Lifetime Traumatic Stress Exposures, Infant Temperament, and Caregiving Quality on Preschoolers' Executive Functioning. Dev Neuropsychol 2022; 47:327-352. [PMID: 36475997 PMCID: PMC9837737 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2147180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We examined effects of maternal and child lifetime traumatic stress exposures, infant temperament, and caregiving quality on parent ratings of preschoolers' executive functioning (EF). Maternal lifetime trauma was associated with preschoolers' EF problems; this association was mediated by greater child trauma exposure. Infant temperament was associated with EF abilities, particularly among females. Among males, infant extraversion/surgency mediated the association of maternal lifetime trauma with poorer child EF. Caregiving quality was negatively associated with maternal and child trauma exposures but did not predict child EF. Findings have implications for interventions to identify children at risk for poor EF and optimize outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Foss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel P. So
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deborah P. Waber
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children’s Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Moog NK, Heim CM, Entringer S, Simhan HN, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Transmission of the adverse consequences of childhood maltreatment across generations: Focus on gestational biology. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 215:173372. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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21
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McGill MG, Pokhvisneva I, Clappison AS, McEwen LM, Beijers R, Tollenaar MS, Pham H, Kee MZL, Garg E, de Mendonça Filho EJ, Karnani N, Silveira PP, Kobor MS, de Weerth C, Meaney MJ, O'Donnell KJ. Maternal Prenatal Anxiety and the Fetal Origins of Epigenetic Aging. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:303-312. [PMID: 34756561 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fetal origins of mental health is a well-established framework that currently lacks a robust index of the biological embedding of prenatal adversity. The Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic (PedBE) clock is a novel epigenetic tool that associates with aspects of the prenatal environment, but additional validation in longitudinal datasets is required. Likewise, the relationship between prenatal maternal mental health and the PedBE clock has not been described. METHODS Longitudinal cohorts from the Netherlands (Basal Influences on Baby Development [BIBO] n = 165) and Singapore (Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes [GUSTO] n = 340) provided data on prenatal maternal anxiety and longitudinal assessments of buccal cell-derived genome-wide DNA methylation assessed at 6 and 10 years of age in BIBO, and at 3, 9, and 48 months of age in GUSTO. Measures of epigenetic age acceleration were calculated using the PedBE clock and benchmarked against an established multi-tissue epigenetic predictor. RESULTS Prenatal maternal anxiety predicted child PedBE epigenetic age acceleration in both cohorts, with effects largely restricted to males and not females. These results were independent of obstetric, socioeconomic, and genetic risk factors, with a larger effect size for prenatal anxiety than depression. PedBE age acceleration predicted increased externalizing symptoms in males from mid- to late childhood in the BIBO cohort only. CONCLUSIONS These findings point to the fetal origins of epigenetic age acceleration and reveal an increased sensitivity in males. Convergent evidence underscores the societal importance of providing timely and effective mental health support to pregnant individuals, which may have lasting consequences for both mother and child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G McGill
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrew S Clappison
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lisa M McEwen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke S Tollenaar
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hung Pham
- Yale Child Study Center and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Elika Garg
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Neerja Karnani
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore
| | - Patricia P Silveira
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore; Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, and Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Yale Child Study Center and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Stout-Oswald SA, Glynn LM, Bisoffi M, Demers CH, Davis EP. Prenatal exposure to maternal psychological distress and telomere length in childhood. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22238. [PMID: 35050506 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a biological marker of cellular aging, and shorter TL in adulthood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. It is likely that these differences in TL are established long before adulthood, and there is growing evidence that TL can reflect prenatal experiences. Although maternal prenatal distress predicts newborn TL, it is unknown whether the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress and child TL persists through childhood. The purpose of the current longitudinal, prospective study is to examine the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-related anxiety) and TL in childhood. Participants included 102 children (54 girls) and their mothers. Mothers' distress was assessed five times during pregnancy, at 12 weeks postpartum, and at the time of child telomere measurement between 6 and 16 years of age. Maternal distress during pregnancy predicted shorter offspring TL in childhood, even after accounting for postnatal exposure to maternal distress and other covariates. These findings indicate that maternal mental health predicts offspring TL biology later in childhood than previously observed. This study bolsters claims that telomere biology is subject to fetal programming and highlights the importance of supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Marco Bisoffi
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Catherine H Demers
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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Lo Iacono L, Trentini C, Carola V. Psychobiological Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Current Knowledge and Clinical Implications. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:771511. [PMID: 34924938 PMCID: PMC8678607 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.771511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of research has documented the long-term harms of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on an individual’s emotional-adaptive function and mental health. Recent studies have also provided evidence of the biological impact of CSA, implicating specific alterations in many systems, including the endocrine and immune systems, and in DNA and chromatin, in the pathogenesis of medical disorders. Although the effects of CSA are often examined with regard to the general impact of early-life traumatic experiences, the study of CSA per sè, as a trigger of specific pathogenic pathways, would be more appropriate to understand their long-term implications and develop tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Based on these premises, this narrative minireview summarizes the research on the short-term and long-term sequelae of CSA, focusing on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the effects on the immune system, and the changes to DNA through altered methylation. Also, we discuss the literature that examines dysfunctional DNA telomere erosion and oxidative stress markers as a sign of CSA. Finally, recent evidence of the intergenerational transmission of the effects of CSA is reported. The impact of CSA on brain connectivity and functions is out of the scope of this review, thus brain imaging studies are not included. The results of this minireview are discussed, considering their implications for prevention and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lo Iacono
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Trentini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Carola
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Rahimi Mehdi Abad F, Khalili P, Jalali F, Pirsadeghi A, Esmaeili Nadimi A, Manshoori A, Jalali Z. Maternal opioid use is reflected on leukocyte telomere length of male newborns. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261013. [PMID: 34919564 PMCID: PMC8682876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid use accelerates normal aging in adults that raises a question on whether it may trans-generationally affect aging and aging biomarkers in the offspring of users as well? In the present research, we investigated the relative telomere length in umbilical cord blood of newborns born to opioid consuming mothers compared to normal controls. Telomere length shortening is a known biomarker of aging and aging related diseases. Its measure at birth or early in life is considered as a predictor of individual health in adulthood. Here, we performed a case-control study to investigate whether maternal opioid use affects newborns relative telomere length (RTL). 57 mother-newborn dyads were included in this study, 30 neonates with opioid using mothers (OM), and 27 with not-opioid using mothers (NOM)). RTL was measured in leukocyte cells genomic DNA using real-time PCR. The correlation of maternal opioid use with neonates telomer length was assessed using logistic regression analysis. The results displayed a significant association between odds ratio of long RTL and maternal opioid use when sensitivity analysis was performed by neonate sex; where the data indicates significantly increased odds ratio of long leukocyte RTL in association with maternal opioid use in male neonates only. Further work is necessary to assess this association in larger samples and test the potential underlying mechanisms for this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Rahimi Mehdi Abad
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Parvin Khalili
- Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Jalali
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Pirsadeghi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Esmaeili Nadimi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjani University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Azita Manshoori
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Zahra Jalali
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
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Influence of Maternal Infection and Pregnancy Complications on Cord Blood Telomere Length. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:3339456. [PMID: 34616503 PMCID: PMC8487834 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3339456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environment might induce structural and functional changes that can affect neonatal health. Telomere length as an important indicator of cellular health has been associated with increased risk for disease development. Objectives This study was aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of maternal, obstetric, and foetal factors on cord blood telomere length (TL). Methods Pregnant women at the gestational age of 20th to 24th week who attended the antenatal clinic of a major local hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, health-related quality of life, and history of risk behaviors. Medical history including pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes was obtained from electronic medical records of both mother and neonate. Umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery for TL determination. Results A total of 753 pregnant women (average age: 32.18 ± 4.51 years) were recruited. The prevalence of maternal infection, anaemia, and hypertension during pregnancy was 30.8%, 30.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = -0.18, p = 0.026). This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = -0.25 to -0.45). Conclusions This study consolidates evidence on the impact of adverse intrauterine environment at the cellular level. Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors.
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Telomeres: New players in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases? J Autoimmun 2021; 123:102699. [PMID: 34265700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of linear chromosomes that preserve the integrity and stability of the genome. Telomere dysfunctions due to short telomeres or altered telomere structures can ultimately lead to replicative cellular senescence and chromosomal instability, both mechanisms being hallmarks of ageing. Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and finally telomere length (TL) dynamics have been shown to be involved in various age-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including affections such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and uveitis belong to this group of age-related NCDs. Although in recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of studies in the literature linking these IMIDs to TL dynamics, the causality between these diseases and telomere attrition is still unclear and controversial. In this review, we provide an overview of available studies on telomere dynamics and discuss the utility of TL measurements in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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Garcia-Martin I, Penketh RJA, Garay SM, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Baird DM, John RM. Symptoms of Prenatal Depression Associated with Shorter Telomeres in Female Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7458. [PMID: 34299077 PMCID: PMC8306199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common mood disorder during pregnancy impacting one in every seven women. Children exposed to prenatal depression are more likely to be born at a low birth weight and develop chronic diseases later in life. A proposed hypothesis for this relationship between early exposure to adversity and poor outcomes is accelerated aging. Telomere length has been used as a biomarker of cellular aging. We used high-resolution telomere length analysis to examine the relationship between placental telomere length distributions and maternal mood symptoms in pregnancy. METHODS This study utilised samples from the longitudinal Grown in Wales (GiW) study. Women participating in this study were recruited at their presurgical appointment prior to a term elective caesarean section (ELCS). Women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Telomere length distributions were generated using single telomere length analysis (STELA) in 109 term placenta (37-42 weeks). Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between maternally reported symptoms of depression and anxiety at term and mean placental telomere length. RESULTS Prenatal depression symptoms were significantly negatively associated with XpYp telomere length in female placenta (B = -0.098, p = 0.026, 95% CI -0.184, -0.012). There was no association between maternal depression symptoms and telomere length in male placenta (B = 0.022, p = 0.586, 95% CI -0.059, 0.103). There was no association with anxiety symptoms and telomere length for either sex. CONCLUSION Maternal prenatal depression is associated with sex-specific differences in term placental telomeres. Telomere shortening in female placenta may indicate accelerated placental aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Richard J. A. Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK;
| | - Samantha M. Garay
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Rosalind M. John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
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Needham BL, Straight B, Hilton CE, Olungah CO, Lin J. Family socioeconomic status and child telomere length among the Samburu of Kenya. Soc Sci Med 2021; 283:114182. [PMID: 34225037 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114182] [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: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous research in high-income countries suggests that children from families with lower socioeconomic status (SES) tend to have shorter telomere length - a biomarker of stress and cell aging - than children from families with greater social and economic resources. However, little is known about predictors of child telomere length in low-income settings. Data for the current study are from a sample of 214 Samburu children aged 1-9 years. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who live in the Rift Valley of north-central Kenya. Samburu livelihood is based primarily on livestock, and polygynous marriage is common. Drawing on prior ethnographic research, we measured 14 culturally relevant indicators of family SES, including mother's education, head of household's education, whether the child is currently attending school, household spending, mother's employment history, head of household's employment history, mother's perceived wealth, whether the child lives in a modern house, livestock holdings (total, cows, sheep/goats, and camels), mother's wife number, and whether the child lives in a polygynous household. Telomere length was measured in salivary DNA by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. Using latent class analysis, we identified four groups of children that are similar based on the 14 indicators of family SES: Lower SES; Middle SES, Traditional; Middle SES, Modern; and Higher SES. SES classes were not significantly associated with child telomere length. In models examining individual indicators of SES, we found that telomere length was 0.57 standard deviations greater for children who lived in families in the lowest quartile of total livestock holdings compared to those in the highest quartile (b = 0.57, p = 0.03). While additional research is needed to identify the mechanisms underlying this counterintuitive finding, the current study highlights the importance of cultural context in shaping the social gradient in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda L Needham
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, USA.
| | - Bilinda Straight
- Department of Gender and Women's Studies, Western Michigan University, USA
| | - Charles E Hilton
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | | | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Bates RA, Justice LM, Salsberry PJ, Jiang H, Dynia JM, Singletary B. Co-occurring risk and protective factors and regulatory behavior of infants living in low-income homes. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101598. [PMID: 34118651 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Early self-regulation is a foundation for lifelong wellness and can be shaped by the interplay among several vital exposures. In this study, we examined the emergence of reliable profiles based upon exposure to risk and protective factors in infancy, determined if sociodemographic resources predict profile membership, and determined if these profiles predict early regulatory behaviors in a sample of infants reared in low-income homes. Data were collected from a sample of primarily Black or White mother-infant dyads living in low-income homes in the Midwest (n = 222) during the infants' first year of life (mean maternal age at enrollment: 26.29 years; range 18-43 years). Exposures included mother-infant interactions; father support; maternal depression, stress, and self-efficacy; home environment; food security; and breastfeeding duration. Sociodemographic resources included poverty status; economic hardship; maternal education, employment, and age; parental marital status; and infant race and sex. Infant regulatory behaviors were measured with the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form effortful control subscale (mean age 11 months; range 8.5-14.3 months). Latent profile analysis was used to profile infants by risk and protective exposures. Regression was used to differentiate profiles by sociodemographic resources and to predict infant regulatory behavior from profiles. Three profiles emerged: low father support, good maternal mental health, and poor maternal mental health. A married mother, less economic hardship, and working mothers predicted infant exposure to good maternal mental health. Infant regulatory behavior was best when the infant was exposed to the good maternal mental health profile. Implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi A Bates
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States; College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, United States.
| | - Laura M Justice
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States
| | - Pamela J Salsberry
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States; College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, United States
| | - Hui Jiang
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States
| | - Jaclyn M Dynia
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States
| | - Britt Singletary
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, United States
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The Relationships Between Prenatal Smoking Exposure and Telomere Lengths in Fetuses, Infants, and Children: A Systematic Literature Review. J Addict Nurs 2021; 31:243-252. [PMID: 33264196 DOI: 10.1097/jan.0000000000000364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between prenatal smoking exposure and telomere lengths (TLs) in fetuses, infants, and children. METHODS This is a systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Databases searched were Biomedical Reference Collection, MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The latest search was on October 18, 2019. RESULTS Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and thus were reviewed. Five of the studies showed significant inverse relationships between prenatal tobacco exposure and TLs in fetuses, infants, and children. One study showed a modification effect of the postconceptual age, indicating that older fetuses with prenatal smoking exposure had shorter TLs than their counterparts. This effect was more prominent after 93 days of postconception. Another study reported a finding that was contrary to the above results, showing that the telomeres of newborns with prenatal smoking exposure were longer than those of their counterparts. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS This review shows that the impact of prenatal smoking on the health of unborn fetuses, infants, and children is an understudied area. Because of the inconsistent findings and cross-sectional study designs, more research is required, especially longitudinally studies. Nonetheless, the findings of the review provide partial evidence that prenatal smoking can potentially impact the genetic biomarker, TLs, and, thus, health of fetuses, infants, and children. The evidence confirms the current practice that pregnant women should be encouraged to stop smoking as soon as they become pregnant.
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Fucic A, Mantovani A, ten Tusscher GW. Immuno-Hormonal, Genetic and Metabolic Profiling of Newborns as a Basis for the Life-Long OneHealth Medical Record: A Scoping Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2021; 57:382. [PMID: 33920921 PMCID: PMC8071263 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57040382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Holistic and life-long medical surveillance is the core of personalised medicine and supports an optimal implementation of both preventive and curative healthcare. Personal medical records are only partially unified by hospital or general practitioner informatics systems, but only for citizens with long-term permanent residence. Otherwise, insight into the medical history of patients greatly depends on their medical archive and memory. Additionally, occupational exposure records are not combined with clinical or general practitioner records. Environmental exposure starts preconceptionally and continues during pregnancy by transplacental exposure. Antenatal exposure is partially dependent on parental lifestyle, residence and occupation. Newborn screening (NBS) is currently being performed in developed countries and includes testing for rare genetic, hormone-related, and metabolic conditions. Transplacental exposure to substances such as endocrine disruptors, air pollutants and drugs may have life-long health consequences. However, despite the recognised impact of transplacental exposure on the increased risk of metabolic syndrome, neurobehavioral disorders as well as immunodisturbances including allergy and infertility, not a single test within NBS is geared toward detecting biomarkers of exposure (xenobiotics or their metabolites, nutrients) or effect such as oestradiol, testosterone and cytokines, known for being associated with various health risks and disturbed by transplacental xenobiotic exposures. The outcomes of ongoing exposome projects might be exploited to this purpose. Developing and using a OneHealth Medical Record (OneHealthMR) may allow the incorporated chip to harvest information from different sources, with high integration added value for health prevention and care: environmental exposures, occupational health records as well as diagnostics of chronic diseases, allergies and medication usages, from birth and throughout life. Such a concept may present legal and ethical issues pertaining to personal data protection, requiring no significant investments and exploits available technologies and algorithms, putting emphasis on the prevention and integration of environmental exposure and health data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alekandra Fucic
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Alberto Mantovani
- Department of Food safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto to Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy;
| | - Gavin W. ten Tusscher
- Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Dijklander Hospital, 1624 NP Hoorn, The Netherlands;
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Epstein CM, Houfek JF, Rice MJ, Weiss SJ. Integrative Review of Early Life Adversity and Cortisol Regulation in Pregnancy. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2021; 50:242-255. [PMID: 33524324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To synthesize published findings on the relationship between early life adversity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis cortisol parameters in pregnant women. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases using variants and combinations of the keywords early life adversity, pregnancy, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and cortisol. STUDY SELECTION We selected articles that included pregnant participants, included measures of cortisol and early life adversity, were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal, and were of sufficient methodologic quality. Date of publication was unrestricted through May 2020. DATA EXTRACTION Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated for quality and risk of bias. Sources of cortisol included saliva, hair, plasma, and amniotic fluid. DATA SYNTHESIS We categorized findings according to four physiologically distinct cortisol output parameters: diurnal (daily pattern), phasic (in response to an acute stressor), tonic (baseline level), and pregnancy-related change. Preliminary evidence suggests that early adversity may be associated with elevated cortisol awakening response (diurnal) and blunted response to acute stressors (phasic), irrespective of other psychosocial symptoms or current stress. For women with high levels of current stress or psychological symptoms, early adversity was associated with higher baseline (tonic) cortisol levels. CONCLUSION Early life adversity in women is linked with alterations in cortisol regulation that are apparent during pregnancy. Researchers should examine how variations in each cortisol parameter differentially predict pregnancy health risk behaviors, maternal mental health, and neonatal health outcomes.
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Hair cortisol levels in pregnancy as a possible determinant of fetal sex: a longitudinal study. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 12:902-907. [PMID: 33407972 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Stress during pregnancy has been widely studied and associated to different variables, usually with negative results for the health of the mother and the newborn, such as having a higher risk of suffering postpartum depression, premature birth, obstetrics complications or low birthweight, among others. However, there are not many lines of research that study the role that the sex of the baby plays on this specific stress and vice versa. Thus, the main objective was to analyse the relationship between the sex of the offspring and the stress of the mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to achieve this, 108 women had their biological stress measured (trough hair cortisol levels) and psychological stress evaluated (the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PSS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PDQ) and the Stress Vulnerability Inventory (IVE)). The results revealed significant differences in maternal hair cortisol levels in the first trimester based on the sex of the baby they had given birth to (t = -2.04; P < 0.05): the concentration of the hormone was higher if the baby was a girl (164.36:54.45-284.87 pg/mg) than if it was a boy (101.13:37.95-193.56 pg/mg). These findings show that the sex of the future baby could be conditioned, among many other variables, by the mother´s stress levels during conception and first weeks of pregnancy. Further research is needed in this area to support our findings.
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Martens DS, Van Der Stukken C, Derom C, Thiery E, Bijnens EM, Nawrot TS. Newborn telomere length predicts later life telomere length: Tracking telomere length from birth to child- and adulthood. EBioMedicine 2021; 63:103164. [PMID: 33422989 PMCID: PMC7808927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomere length (TL) is considered a biological marker of aging and may indicate age-related disease susceptibility. Adults and children show a fixed ranking and tracking of TL over time. However, the contribution of an individual's initial birth TL to their later life TL is unknown. We evaluated change and tracking of TL from birth to child- and adulthood. Methods Telomere length at birth was measured using qPCR in two independent prospective birth cohorts. After a median follow-up period of 4 years in ENVIRONAGE (n = 273) we assessed leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and after 23 years in EFPTS (n = 164) buccal TL was assessed. Correlations and multivariable regression models were applied to study telomere tracking and determinants of TL change from birth onwards. Findings In children, LTL at the age of 4 correlates with TL at the start of life both in cord blood (r = 0.71, P < 0.0001;) and placenta (r = 0.60, P < 0.0001) and was –11.2% and –33.1% shorter, respectively. In adulthood, buccal TL at the age of 23 correlates with placental TL (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001) and was –35.9% shorter. TL attrition was higher in individuals with longer birth TL. However, based on TL ranking, individuals do not tend to change dramatically from TL rank after 4 or 23 years of follow-up. Finally, longer maternal TL associates with lower telomere attrition in the next generation. Interpretation The high prediction of newborn TL for later life TL, and stable TL ranking from birth onwards underscores the importance of understanding the initial setting of newborn TL and its significance for later life. Funding European Research Council (ERC-StG310898) and Flemish Scientific Fund (12X9620N).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Catherine Derom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Centre of Human Genetics, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Evert Thiery
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Bosquet Enlow M, Petty CR, Hacker MR, Burris HH. Maternal psychosocial functioning, obstetric health history, and newborn telomere length. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 123:105043. [PMID: 33176222 PMCID: PMC7732207 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is growing interest in elucidating the determinants of newborn telomere length, given its potential as a biomarker of lifetime disease risk affected by prenatal exposures. There is limited evidence that increased maternal stress during pregnancy predicts shorter newborn telomere length. However, the few studies published to date have been conducted primarily with small samples utilizing inconsistent definitions of maternal stress. Moreover, the potential influence of fetal sex as a moderator of maternal stress effects on newborn telomere length has been largely ignored despite compelling evidence of likely impact. In a prospective cohort study of pregnant women seeking routine prenatal care, we tested whether a range of maternal measures of stressor exposures, subjective feelings of stress, and mental health (depression, anxiety) were associated with newborn telomere length assessed from cord blood among 146 pregnant women and their newborn infants. We further examined whether the pattern of associations differed by infant sex. Sociodemographic and maternal and newborn health indicators were considered as potential covariates. When examined within the whole sample, none of the maternal psychosocial measures were associated with newborn telomere length. Among potential covariates, maternal history of smoking and preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy were negatively associated with newborn telomere length. In adjusted linear regression analyses that considered potential sex-specific effects, maternal depression, general anxiety, and pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms were positively associated with newborn telomere length among males. Overall, the findings provide some evidence for an association between maternal psychosocial wellbeing in pregnancy and newborn telomere length in males, although in the opposite direction than previously reported. Maternal smoking and obstetric history prior to conception may be associated with shorter offspring telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michele R. Hacker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heather H. Burris
- Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA,Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Brunton R, Dryer R. Child Sexual Abuse and Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2021; 111:104802. [PMID: 33218712 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child sexual abuse is related to many negative outcomes but less known is the effect on pregnancy and childbirth. OBJECTIVE This review critically examined the literature on the occurrence of child sexual abuse and outcomes associated with this abuse during pregnancy and childbirth. METHODS Five databases were searched over 50 years using an iterative approach and the terms pregnancy, sexual abuse/assault, childbirth/labour, identifying 49 studies. RESULTS The prevalence of child sexual abuse in pregnant women ranged from 2.63% to 37.25 with certain characteristics more common with a higher (e.g., specific questions, low income) or lower (broad questions, higher education) prevalence. Compared to women with no history of abuse, child sexual abuse survivors may have more concerns with their care, greater health complaints, fear childbirth and have difficulties with delivery. They also had a higher likelihood of PTSD symptomology and anxiety, consumed more harmful substances (e.g., alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs) and had greater concerns with their appearance, poorer health, sleep and may also have a higher risk of re-victimisation. CONCLUSIONS The balance of evidence suggests that compared to non-abused women, women with a child abuse history have more adverse experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, and care, with their abuse history, likely contributes to harmful behaviours and psychopathology. However, variability in operationalisation and measurement of abuse may contribute to these findings so tentative conclusions are drawn. Future research should examine the generalisability of the findings (relating to scale limitations) and recommendations for screening (e.g., sensitive items, scoring). Clinical implications of the findings point to the need for early identification of women with a child abuse history as such women require trauma-sensitive care and consideration. A useful tool is the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale which provides insights into specific areas of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Brunton
- Charles Sturt University, School of Psychology, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia.
| | - Rachel Dryer
- Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, NSW 2135, Australia
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37
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Colicino E, Cowell W, Bozack A, Foppa Pedretti N, Joshi A, Niedzwiecki MM, Bollati V, Berin C, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Association between prenatal immune phenotyping and cord blood leukocyte telomere length in the PRISM pregnancy cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110113. [PMID: 32841635 PMCID: PMC7883408 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental exposures including air pollutants, toxic metals, and psychosocial stress have been associated with shorter telomere length (TL) in newborns. These exposures have in turn been linked to an enhanced inflammatory immune response. Increased inflammation during pregnancy may be a central biological pathway linking environmental factors with reduced TL at birth. Approaches that more comprehensively characterize the prenatal inflammatory milieu rather than targeting specific individual cytokines in relation to newborn TL may better elucidate inflammatory mechanisms. METHODS Analyses included 129 mother-child dyads enrolled in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) pregnancy cohort. We measured 92 inflammation related proteins during pregnancy in maternal serum using the Olink protein array and quantified cord blood relative leukocyte TL (rLTL) via qPCR. We leveraged a tree-based machine learning algorithm to select the most important inflammatory related proteins jointly associated with rLTL. We then evaluated the combined association between the selected proteins with rLTL using Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) Regression. Analyses were adjusted for gestational week of serum collection, maternal race/ethnicity, age, and education, and fetal sex. We evaluated major biological function of the identified proteins by using the UniProtKB, a centralized repository of curated functional information. RESULTS Three proteins were negatively and linearly associated with rLTL (CASP8 β: -0.22 p = 0.008, BNGF β: -0.43 p = 0.033, TRANCE β: 0.38 p = 0.004). Results from BWQS regression showed a significant overall decrease in rLTL (β: -0.26 95%CrI: -0.43, -0.07) per quartile increase of the mixture, with CASP8 contributing the greatest weight (CASP8 50%; BNGF 27%, and TRANCE 23%). The identified proteins were involved in the regulation of apoptotic processes and cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS This proteomics approach identifies novel maternal prenatal inflammatory protein biomarkers associated with shortened rLTL in newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - W Cowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Bozack
- Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - N Foppa Pedretti
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Joshi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M M Niedzwiecki
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - C Berin
- Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - R O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - R J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Cowell W, Colicino E, Tanner E, Amarasiriwardena C, Andra SS, Bollati V, Kannan S, Ganguri H, Gennings C, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Prenatal toxic metal mixture exposure and newborn telomere length: Modification by maternal antioxidant intake. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 190:110009. [PMID: 32777275 PMCID: PMC7530067 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL) predicts the onset of cellular senescence and correlates with longevity and age-related disease risk. While telomeres erode throughout life, adults display fixed ranking and tracking of TL, supporting the importance of the early environment in determining inter-individual variability across the life course. Given their guanine-rich structure, telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative stress (OS). We examined maternal metal exposure, which can induce OS, in relation to newborn TL. We also considered the modifying role of maternal antioxidant intake. METHODS Analyses included 100 mother-newborn pairs enrolled in the Boston and New York City-based PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) pregnancy cohort. We measured As, Ba, Cd, Ni, and Pb in maternal late-pregnancy urine by ICP-MS and quantified relative leukocyte TL (rLTL) in cord blood using qPCR. We used Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression to estimate the metal mixture - rLTL association and conducted repeated holdout validation to improve the stability of estimates across data partitions. We examined models stratified by high (>median) versus low (≤median) maternal antioxidant intake, estimated from Block98 Food Frequency Questionnaires. We considered urinary creatinine, week of urine collection, maternal age, and race/ethnicity as covariates. RESULTS In adjusted models, urinary metals were inversely associated with newborn rLTL (βWQS = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.78, -0.21). The top metals contributing to the negative association included Ba (weight: 35.4%), Cd (24.5%) and Pb (26.9%). In models stratified by antioxidant intake, the significant inverse association between metals and rLTL remained only among mothers with low antioxidant intake (low: βWQS = -0.92, 95% CI: -1.53, -0.30; high: βWQS = -0.03, 95% CI: -0.58, 0.52). Results were similar in unadjusted models. CONCLUSIONS Relative LTL was shorter among newborns of mothers with higher exposure to metals during pregnancy. Higher maternal antioxidant intake may mitigate the negative influence of metals on newborn rLTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eva Tanner
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Syam S Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Srimathi Kannan
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Harish Ganguri
- Department of Information Systems Security, University of Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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39
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Reddy KD, Oliver BGG. Sex-specific effects of in utero and adult tobacco smoke exposure. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 320:L63-L72. [PMID: 33084360 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00273.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoke has harmful effects on a multiorgan level. Exposure to smoke, whether in utero or environmental, significantly increases susceptibility. This susceptibility has been identified to be divergent between males and females. However, there remains a distinct lack of thorough research into the relationship between sex and exposure to tobacco. Females tend to generate a more significant response than males during adulthood exposure. The intrauterine environment is meticulously controlled, and exposure to tobacco presents a significant factor that contributes to poor health outcomes and susceptibility later in life. Analysis of these effects in relation to the sex of the offspring is yet to be holistically reviewed and summarized. In this review, we will delineate the time-dependent relationship between tobacco smoke exposure and sex-specific disease susceptibility. We further outline possible biological mechanisms that may contribute to the identified pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karosham D Reddy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian G G Oliver
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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40
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Intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma? Testing cellular aging in mothers exposed to sexual abuse and their children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104781. [PMID: 32629221 PMCID: PMC7502488 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to maltreatment in childhood can lead to increased risk for poor health outcomes in adulthood. Child maltreatment and later poor health may be linked by premature biological aging. We tested whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was associated with telomere length (TL) in adult females. We further tested the hypothesis of intergenerational transmission of CSA-related effects by measuring TL in both CSA-exposed and non-exposed mothers and their children. METHODS Participants were a subset of females and their children in a prospective-longitudinal cohort study of sexually abused females and a demographically comparable control group from the same Washington, D.C. area. TL was measured using qPCR in both leukocyte and buccal samples from females (N = 108, mean age 36.3 years) and buccal samples from their children (N = 124, mean age 10.5 years). Multilevel models were used to test associations between CSA-exposure and TL measured in leukocytes and buccal tissue in females and to test the intergenerational effect of maternal-CSA exposure on age-adjusted TL in their children. RESULTS CSA-exposure was not associated with TL in adult females. Maternal TL and biological sex were significant predictors of child TL such that longer maternal TL predicted longer TL in children, and female children had longer TL than male children. However, maternal-CSA exposure did not predict TL in children. DISCUSSION CSA-exposure was not associated with TL in this cohort of middle-aged females, nor was there evidence for an intergenerational effect of maternal-CSA exposure on child TL. This finding is in line with some previous results on CSA and adult TL. Previous significant results associating child maltreatment with shorter TL may be capturing a population of individuals exposed to either multiple types of maltreatment compared to controls with no childhood adversity, or maltreatment in childhood with concurrent TL measurements.
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Lulkiewicz M, Bajsert J, Kopczynski P, Barczak W, Rubis B. Telomere length: how the length makes a difference. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:7181-7188. [PMID: 32876842 PMCID: PMC7561533 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05551-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase is perceived as an immortality enzyme that might provide longevity to cells and whole organisms. Importantly, it is generally inactive in most somatic cells of healthy, adult men. Consequently, its substrates, i.e. telomeres, get shorter in most human cells with time. Noteworthy, cell life limitation due to telomere attrition during cell divisions, may not be as bad as it looks since longer cell life means longer exposition to harmful factors. Consequently, telomere length (attrition rate) becomes a factor that is responsible for inducing the signaling that leads to the elimination of cells that lived long enough to acquire severe damage. It seems that telomere length that depends on many different factors (including telomerase activity but also genetic factors, a hormonal profile that reflects sex, etc.) might become a useful marker of aging and exposition to stress. Thus in the current paper, we review the factors that affect telomere length in human cells focusing on sex that all together with different environmental and hormonal regulations as well as parental aspect affect telomere attrition rate. We also raise some limitations in the assessment of telomere length that hinders a trustworthy meta-analysis that might lead to acknowledgment of the real value of this parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lulkiewicz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznan, Poland
| | - J Bajsert
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznan, Poland
| | - P Kopczynski
- Centre for Orthodontic Mini-Implants at the Department and Clinic of Maxillofacial Orthopedics and Orthodontics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812, Poznan, Poland
| | - W Barczak
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, The Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866, Poznan, Poland.,Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, The Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866, Poznan, Poland
| | - B Rubis
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznan, Poland.
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Barrero-Castillero A, Morton SU, Nelson CA, Smith VC. Psychosocial Stress and Adversity: Effects from the Perinatal Period to Adulthood. Neoreviews 2020; 20:e686-e696. [PMID: 31792156 DOI: 10.1542/neo.20-12-e686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Early exposure to stress and adversity can have both immediate and lasting effects on physical and psychological health. Critical periods have been identified in infancy, during which the presence or absence of experiences can alter developmental trajectories. There are multiple explanations for how exposure to psychosocial stress, before conception or early in life, has an impact on later increased risk for developmental delays, mental health, and chronic metabolic diseases. Through both epidemiologic and animal models, the mechanisms by which experiences are transmitted across generations are being identified. Because psychosocial stress has multiple components that can act as stress mediators, a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between multiple adverse or beneficial experiences and their ultimate effects on health is essential to best identify interventions that will improve health and outcomes. This review outlines what is known about the biology, transfer, and effects of psychosocial stress and early life adversity from the perinatal period to adulthood. This information can be used to identify potential areas in which clinicians in neonatal medicine could intervene to improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Barrero-Castillero
- Division of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.,Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sarah U Morton
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston, MA
| | - Vincent C Smith
- Division of Neonatology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.,Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, Boston, MA
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Maternal stress or sleep during pregnancy are not reflected on telomere length of newborns. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13986. [PMID: 32814800 PMCID: PMC7438332 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71000-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres play an important role in maintaining chromosomal integrity. With each cell division, telomeres are shortened and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has therefore been considered a marker for biological age. LTL is associated with various lifetime stressors and health-related outcomes. Transgenerational effects have been implicated in newborns, with maternal stress, depression, and anxiety predicting shorter telomere length at birth, possibly reflecting the intrauterine growth environment. Previous studies, with relatively small sample sizes, have reported an effect of maternal stress, BMI, and depression during pregnancy on the LTL of newborns. Here, we attempted to replicate previous findings on prenatal stress and newborn LTL in a sample of 1405 infants using a qPCR-based method. In addition, previous research has been expanded by studying the relationship between maternal sleep quality and LTL. Maternal prenatal stress, anxiety, depression, BMI, and self-reported sleep quality were evaluated with self-reported questionnaires. Despite sufficient power to detect similar or even considerably smaller effects than those previously reported in the literature, we were unable to replicate the previous correlation between maternal stress, anxiety, depression, or sleep with LTL. We discuss several possible reasons for the discrepancies between our findings and those previously described.
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Lee AG, Cowell W, Kannan S, Ganguri HB, Nentin F, Wilson A, Coull BA, Wright RO, Baccarelli A, Bollati V, Wright RJ. Prenatal particulate air pollution and newborn telomere length: Effect modification by maternal antioxidant intakes and infant sex. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 187:109707. [PMID: 32474316 PMCID: PMC7844769 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence links gestational exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) with changes in leukocyte telomere length in cord blood with some studies showing sex-specific effects. PM2.5 exposure in utero increases oxidative stress, which can impact telomere biology. Thus, maternal antioxidant intakes may also modify the particulate air pollution effects. METHODS We examined associations among prenatal PM2.5 exposure and newborn relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL), and the modifying effects of maternal antioxidant intake and infant sex. We estimated daily PM2.5 exposures over gestation using a validated spatiotemporally resolved satellite-based model. Maternal dietary and supplemental antioxidant intakes over the prior three months were ascertained during the second trimester using the modified Block98 food frequency questionnaire; high and low antioxidant intakes were categorized based on a median split. We employed Bayesian distributed lag interaction models (BDLIMs) to identify both sensitive windows of exposure and cumulative effect estimates for prenatal PM2.5 exposure on newborn rLTL, and to examine effect modification by maternal antioxidant intakes. A 3-way interaction between PM2.5, maternal antioxidant intake and infant sex was also explored. RESULTS For the main effect of PM2.5, BDLIMs identified a sensitive window at 12-20 weeks gestation for the association between increased prenatal PM2.5 exposure and shorter newborn rLTL and a cumulative effect of PM2.5 over gestation on newborn telomere length [cumulative effect estimate (CEE) = -0.29 (95% CI -0.49 to -0.10) per 1μg/m3 increase in PM2.5]. In models examining maternal antioxidant intake effects, BDLIMs found that children born to mothers reporting low antioxidant intakes were most vulnerable [CEE of low maternal antioxidant intake = -0.31 (95% CI -0.55 to -0.06) vs high maternal antioxidant intake = -0.07 (95% CI -0.34 to 0.17) per 1μg/m3 increase in PM2.5]. In exploratory models examining effect modification by both maternal antioxidant intakes and infant sex, the cumulative effect remained significant only in boys whose mothers reported low antioxidant intakes [CEE = -0.38 (95% CI -0.80 to -0.004)]; no sensitive windows were identified in any group. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal PM2.5 exposure in mid-gestation was associated with reduced infant telomere length. Higher maternal antioxidant intakes mitigated these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Srimathi Kannan
- Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Farida Nentin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ander Wilson
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Telomere erosion as a placental clock: From placental pathologies to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placenta 2020; 97:101-107. [PMID: 32792055 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The placenta provides nutritional and gas exchange between fetus and mother. Early in pregnancy, placental trophoblasts proliferate rapidly and invade aggressively. As pregnancy progresses, placental cells begin to age. Indeed, pregnancy itself has a tightly regulated duration, determined in large part by placental lifespan. Late in pregnancy, placental cells reach a senescent apoptotic state, activated by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including oxidative stress (OS), and DNA damage. Pregnancy complications, stillbirths and neonatal deaths have been related to OS and abnormal placental aging. Telomeres, the protective nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes, shorten both from cell replication and from exposure to OS. When telomeres become critically short they trigger cell cycle arrest and eventually cell death. Telomere attrition thus provide an intrinsic mechanism to explain tissue senescence and aging. Mounting evidence suggests that senescence of placental and fetal membrane cells results from telomere attrition. We review the studies that have addressed the role of telomere length (TL) in placentas from normal and complicated pregnancies, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth. To date studies have uncovered associations between TL and a number of obstetrical complications. Future research is needed to determine whether these associations are causative, i.e. whether these clinical conditions result from telomere dysfunction, and whether particular features of telomeres, e.g. mean or shortest length, etc. could serve as clinically useful biomarkers of placental health.
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Martens DS, Janssen BG, Bijnens EM, Clemente DBP, Vineis P, Plusquin M, Nawrot TS. Association of Parental Socioeconomic Status and Newborn Telomere Length. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e204057. [PMID: 32364595 PMCID: PMC7199116 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Low socioeconomic status is associated with higher all-cause mortality and risks for aging-related diseases. Biological aging is a potential process underlying health conditions related to social disadvantages, which may be present from birth onward. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of parental socioeconomic status with telomere length (TL) at birth, a marker of biological aging. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective birth cohort study was conducted among 1504 mother-newborn pairs in Belgium recruited between February 1, 2010, and July 1, 2017. EXPOSURES Parental socioeconomic measures, including maternal educational level, occupation, paternal educational level, and neighborhood income based on median annual household income. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Mean relative TL was measured in cord blood and placental tissue. By constructing a principal component, an integrative socioeconomic measure was derived that integrates parental socioeconomic status and neighborhood income. Multivariable adjusted regression analyses were performed to associate the integrative socioeconomic measure and TL at birth. RESULTS In 1026 newborns (517 boys; mean [SD] gestational age, 39.2 [1.4] weeks), a higher socioeconomic status was associated with longer cord blood TL and placental TL. Each unit increment in the integrative socioeconomic status measure was associated with 2.1% (95% CI, 0.9%-3.4%; P < .001) longer cord blood TL in boys, while no association was observed for girls (0.5% longer cord blood TL; 95% CI, -0.9% to 1.8%; P = .50). The sex-specific socioeconomic status interaction revealed a stronger association in boys compared with newborn girls (1.6%; 95% CI, 0.02%-3.3%; P = .047 for interaction). In placental tissue, higher socioeconomic status was associated with 1.8% (95% CI, 0.3%-3.3%; P = .02) longer TL in newborn boys but not in girls (0.4% longer TL; 95% CI, -1.2% to 2.0%; P = .63). For placental tissue, no sex and socioeconomic status interaction on TL was observed (1.4%; 95% CI, -0.5% to 3.4%; P = .16 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that parental socioeconomic status is associated with newborn TL, especially in boys. The results indicate that familial social economic factors are associated with the potential cellular longevity of the next generation, with a potential higher transgenerational vulnerability for newborn boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries S. Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Bram G. Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Esmée M. Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Paolo Vineis
- Medical Research Council–Health Policy Agency, Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
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Patterns of change in telomere length over the first three years of life in healthy children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 115:104602. [PMID: 32120019 PMCID: PMC7183438 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There is growing interest in the use of telomere length as a biomarker of health and a predictor of later morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about developmentally expected telomere erosion over the first years of life. This gap hinders our ability to interpret the meaning of relative telomere length and rate of attrition in relation to risk factors and health outcomes. The overall goal of this study was to examine the rate of relative telomere length attrition in a large, normative sample of healthy children (N = 630) followed from infancy to three years of age. A secondary goal was to explore associations between sociodemographic characteristics and telomere erosion over this time period. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected in infancy (M = 8.6 months), age 2 years (M = 25.2 months), and age 3 years (M = 38.3 months). In the sample as a whole, relative telomere length decreased from infancy to 2 years but remained stable from 2 years to 3 years. Notably, increases in relative telomere length were observed in 29 % of children between infancy and 2 years of age and in 46 % of children between 2 and 3 years of age; 62 % of children showed both increases and decreases in relative telomere length across the study period. Females showed longer relative telomere length than males, regardless of timepoint. There was some evidence that parental age and family finances were associated with changes in child relative telomere length across time. Overall, the findings suggest that telomere length attrition is not uniform across the early years of life, with the most rapid attrition occurring during the first two years, and that increases as well as decreases in telomere length during this period are commonly observed.
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Michels KB, De Vivo I, Calafat AM, Binder AM. In utero exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and telomere length at birth. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109053. [PMID: 31923847 PMCID: PMC8667573 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length correlates with morbidity and mortality. While telomere length appears to be influenced by hormone levels, the potential impact of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has not been studied. We examined the association between maternal gestational concentrations of biomarkers of EDC exposure and telomere length at birth in the Harvard Epigenetic Birth Cohort. EDC (phenols and phthalates) biomarker concentrations were measured in maternal spot urine samples during the first trimester and telomere length in maternal and cord blood collected at delivery among 181 mother-newborn singleton dyads. Maternal and newborn telomere length exhibited a positive correlation (Spearman ρ = 0.20 (p-value< 0.01). Infant telomere length was associated with maternal biomarker concentrations of specific EDCs, and most of these associations were observed to be infant sex-specific. Prenatal exposure to triclosan, a non-paraben phenol with antimicrobial properties, was one of the most strongly associated EDCs with telomere length; telomere length was 20% (95% CI 5%-33%) shorter among boys in the highest quartile of maternal biomarker concentrations compared to the lowest quartile. In contrast, we observed longer telomere length associated with increased gestational concentrations of mono-isobutyl phthalate, and among boys, with increased concentrations of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. In this birth cohort, we observed associations between maternal gestational exposure to select EDC biomarkers and telomere length, most of which were sex-specific. These findings need to be confirmed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin B Michels
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexandra M Binder
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Esteves KC, Jones CW, Wade M, Callerame K, Smith AK, Theall KP, Drury SS. Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Offspring Telomere Length and Psychopathology. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:47-57. [PMID: 31509004 PMCID: PMC7273739 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with mental and physical health risks that, through biological and psychosocial pathways, likely span generations. Within an individual, telomere length (TL), an established marker of cellular stress and aging, is associated with both ACE exposure and psychopathology, providing the basis for an emerging literature suggesting that TL is a biomarker of the health risks linked to early-life adversity both within and across generations. The authors tested the effect of maternal ACEs on both the trajectory of infant TL and infant social-emotional problems at 18 months of age. METHODS Pregnant women were recruited, and maternal scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire were obtained, along with demographic and prenatal stress measures. Postnatal visits with 155 mother-infant dyads occurred when infants were 4, 12, and 18 months of age. At each visit, infant buccal swabs were collected for TL measurement, and mothers completed measures of maternal depression. Mothers also completed the Child Behavior Checklist at the 18-month visit. Mixed-effects modeling was used to test how maternal ACEs influenced infant TL trajectory. Linear regression was used to test the association between maternal ACEs and infant internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Finally, the interaction between telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months and maternal ACEs was examined as a predictor of infant scores on the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Higher maternal ACEs were associated with shorter infant TL across infancy and higher infant externalizing behavioral problems at 18 months. No associations were found with internalizing behavioral problems. Telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months interacted with maternal ACEs to predict externalizing behaviors. In infants whose mothers reported higher scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire, greater telomere attrition predicted higher externalizing problems, even when accounting for maternal postnatal depression and prenatal stress. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate an interactive pathway between maternal early-life adversity and infant TL that predicts emerging behavioral problems in the next generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle C Esteves
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Christopher W Jones
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Mark Wade
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Keegan Callerame
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Alicia K Smith
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Katherine P Theall
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Stacy S Drury
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
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Walsh K, McCormack CA, Webster R, Pinto A, Lee S, Feng T, Krakovsky HS, O'Grady SM, Tycko B, Champagne FA, Werner EA, Liu G, Monk C. Maternal prenatal stress phenotypes associate with fetal neurodevelopment and birth outcomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23996-24005. [PMID: 31611411 PMCID: PMC6883837 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905890116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal prenatal stress influences offspring neurodevelopment and birth outcomes including the ratio of males to females born; however, there is limited understanding of what types of stress matter, and for whom. Using a data-driven approach with 27 variables from questionnaires, ambulatory diaries, and physical assessments collected early in the singleton pregnancies of 187 women, 3 latent profiles of maternal prenatal stress emerged that were differentially associated with sex at birth, birth outcomes, and fetal neurodevelopment. Most women (66.8%) were in the healthy group (HG); 17.1% were in the psychologically stressed group (PSYG), evidencing clinically meaningful elevations in perceived stress, depression, and anxiety; and 16% were in the physically stressed group (PHSG) with relatively higher ambulatory blood pressure and increased caloric intake. The population normative male:female secondary sex ratio (105:100) was lower in the PSYG (2:3) and PHSG (4:9), and higher in the HG (23:18), consistent with research showing diminished male births in maternal stress contexts. PHSG versus HG infants were born 1.5 wk earlier (P < 0.05) with 22% compared to 5% born preterm. PHSG versus HG fetuses had decreased fetal heart rate-movement coupling (P < 0.05), which may indicate slower central nervous system development, and PSYG versus PHSG fetuses had more birth complications, consistent with previous findings among offspring of women with psychiatric illness. Social support most strongly differentiated the HG, PSYG, and PHSG groups, and higher social support was associated with increased odds of male versus female births. Stress phenotypes in pregnant women are associated with male vulnerability and poor fetal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Walsh
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, The Bronx, NY 10461
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Clare A McCormack
- Center for Science and Society, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Rachel Webster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Anita Pinto
- Data Science, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Biostatistics (in Psychiatry), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Tianshu Feng
- Department of Biostatistics (in Psychiatry), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - H Sloan Krakovsky
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Sinclaire M O'Grady
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Benjamin Tycko
- Hackensack-Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ 07110
| | - Frances A Champagne
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Elizabeth A Werner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Grace Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032;
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
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