Maternal trauma and fear history predict BDNF methylation and gene expression in newborns

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Stefanie R. Pilkay, Syracuse University; Terri Combs-Orme, University of Tennessee; Frances Tylaysky, University of Tennessee; Nicole Bush, University of California San Francisco; Alicia Smith, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-05-22
• Publisher: PeerJ Inc.
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Pilkay et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8858
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PeerJ
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: e8858
• End Page: e8858
• Grant/Funding Information: Funding and support were provided by The Urban Child Institute and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, with other support from the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, grants HD055462 and HD060713.
• Keywords: Trauma; Blood DNA methylation; Intergenerational; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Neurothropic factor; BDNF; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Fear; Epigenetic; Women; Cord blood; Animal model; Science & Technology; Childhood trauma; Prenatal stress; Exposure; Depression; Abuse
• Research Categories: Biology, Genetics; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Psychology, Psychobiology; Sociology, Public and Social Welfare

Abstract

Trauma and related fear exert significant influence on mental and physical health throughout the lifespan and are associated with intergenerational patterns of development, health, and behavior. DNA methylation and gene expression are involved in our developmental adaptations to our experiences and can be influenced by social interventions. Patterns of DNA methylation and expression of a gene involved in neurodevelopment and psychiatric risk (BDNF) have been linked with childhood trauma. Given the intergenerational patterns of health and behavior, and previous links between childhood trauma and BDNF methylation and expression, this study investigated the potential for maternal history of traumatic experiences to influence development in her newborn, via changes in her newborn’s BDNF methylation and expression. We found that mothers’ trauma history was associated with epigenetic regulation of BDNF in their newborns. Moreover, the association between maternal trauma and BDNF methylation and expression patterns were moderated by newborn sex. Male newborns showed increased BDNF expression with maternal exposure to child abuse (p = .001), and increased BDNF methylation with greater maternal fear (p = .001). Female newborns showed reduced BDNF expression with greater maternal fear (p = .004). Practitioners strive to identify prevention and intervention avenues that will reduce the harmful effects of trauma. Future research should consider the potential for maternal historical trauma experiences to influence offspring DNA methylation and gene expression in a manner that could alter development and inform novel prevention strategies.