Table 1.
Studies examining associations between epigenetic processes and fetal or newborn neurobehavior
| Authors | Sample size | Tissue type | Genes targeted | Transcription factor binding sites targeted? | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, Lester, Armstrong, Lesseur, & Marsit, 2015 | 372 | Placenta | NR3c1 exon 1F (average of 13 CpG sites), HSD11β2, promoter (average of 3 CpG sites) | No | Interactions between NR3c1, 11β-HSD2 predicted habituation, excitability, and asymmetrical reflexes |
| Bromer, Marsit, Armstrong, Padbury, & Lester, 2013 | 186 | Placenta | NR3c1 exon 1F (average of 13 CpG sites) | No | Main effects of DNA methylation of NR3c1 on infant movement and infant attention |
| Conradt, Lester, Appleton, Armstrong, & Marsit, 2013 | 521 | Placenta | NR3c1 CpG2 on exon 1F; HSD11β2, CpG4 on promoter | No | Interactions between DNA methylation of NR3c1 CpG2 and maternal depression predicted self-regulation, lethargy, and hypotonia; Interactions between 11β-HSD2 CpG4 and maternal prenatal anxiety predicted hypotonia |
| Lesseur, Armstrong, Murphy, Appleton, Koestler, Paquette, Lester, & Marsit, 2014 | 444 | Placenta | LEP promoter | No | DNA methylation of LEP related o lethargy and hypotonicity in males |
| Lester, Marsit, Giarraputo, Hawes, LaGasse, & Padbury, 2015 | 67 | Buccal cells | NR3c1 CpG3 on exon 1F; HSD11β2, CpG3 on promoter | Yes (transcription factor NGF1-A and E2F1) | “high risk” neurobehavioral profile associated with differential DNA methylation of NR3c1 CpG3 on exon 1F and 11β-HSD2 CpG3 in promoter |
| Maccani, Koestler, Lester, Houseman, Armstrong, Kelsey, & Marsit, 2015 | 192 | Placenta | EWAS | No | “high risk” neurobehavioral profile associated with DNA methylation differences in 10 loci, 6 of which resided in the EMID2 gene |
| Marsit, Lambertini, Maccani, Koestler, Houseman, Padbury, Lester, & Chen, 2012 | 106 | Placenta | 22 imprinted candidate genes | No (assessed for gene expression only) | Imprinted genes were associated with quality of movement and handling |
| Marsit, Maccani, Padbury, & Lester, 2012 | 185 | Placenta | HSD11β2, promoter (average of 4 CpG sites) | No | DNA methylation of 11β-HSD2 promoter related to quality of movement |
| Monk, Feng, Lee, Krupska, Champagne, & Tycko, 2016 | 61 | Placenta | HSD11β2, NR3C1, and FKBP5 | No | Elevated DNA methylation of HSD11β2 and FKBP5 related to lower coupling of fetal HR and movement |
| Paquette, Houseman, Green, Lesseur, Armstrong, Lester, & Marsit, 2016 | 335 | Placenta | EWAS | No | Infant attention related to DNA methylation of FHIT, ANKRD11 |
| Paquette, Lesseur, Armstrong, Koestler, Appleton, Lester, & Marsit, 2013 | 444 | Placenta | HTR2A | No | HTR2A methylation related to quality of movement and attention |
| Paquette, Lester, Lesseur, Armstrong, Guerin, Appleton, & Marsit, 2015 | 537 | Placenta | NR3c1, HSD11β2, FKBP5, and ADCYAP1R1 | Yes | Increased methylation of NR3c1 and HSD11β2 related to reactive, poorly regulated NNNS profile |
| Stroud, Papandonatos, Salisbury, Phipps, Huestis, Miaura, Padbury, Marsit, & Lester, 2016 | 45 | Placenta | NR3c1, | No | DNA methylation of NR3c1 related to infant attention, self-regulation, lethargy, and soothability |