Epigenetic programming—The important first 1000 days

Linnér, Agnes; Almgren, Malin

doi:10.1111/apa.15050

Cited by 58 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This study can provide unprecedented relevant insights on the biochemical mechanisms underlying the impact of prenatal maternal stress on the infants, highlighting pathways of risk during a heightened period of neurodevelopmental plasticity and environmental sensitivity. First, as pregnancy is a specific sensitive window, 4 mother and the newborn may be more susceptible to adverse environmental exposure as the COVID-19 emergency and this study will provide both behavioural and up-to-date epigenetic evidence of these effects. Second, this research project is warranted to contribute to the rapidly expanding and established field of behavioural epigenetics, providing novel prospective evidence about the intergenerational transmission of adverse environmental exposures.…”

Section: Expected Results and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 3 More specifically, the COVID-19related psychological stress should not be underestimated especially during specific sensitive developmental windows characterised by enhanced neuroplasticity and susceptibility to environmental exposures, such as pregnancy and neonatal life. 4 In this scenario, the mother-infant health is at risk not only because of potential direct exposure to the virus 5 but also due to high levels of stress continuously experienced by mothers from conception to delivery. 6 The exposure to prenatal maternal stress predicts a wide variety of behavioural, emotional, cognitive and physical outcomes in the offspring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The MOM-COPE research project: Measuring the outcomes of maternal COVID19-related prenatal exposure

Provenzi¹,

Giorda

Biasucci

et al. 2020

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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Introduction COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease that rapidly emerged as an unprecedented epidemic in Europe, with a primary hotspot in Northern Italy during the first months of 2020. Its high infection rate and rapid spread contribute to set the risk for relevant psychological stress in citizens. In this context, motherinfant health is at risk not only because of potential direct exposure to the virus but also due to high levels of stress experienced by mothers from conception to delivery. Prenatal stress exposure associates with less-than-optimal child developmental outcomes, and specific epigenetic mechanisms (eg, DNA methylation) may play a critical role in mediating this programming association. Methods and analysis We present the methodological protocol for a longitudinal, multicentric study on the behavioural and epigenetic effects of COVID-19-related prenatal stress in a cohort of mother-infant dyads in Northern Italy. The dyads will be enrolled at 10 facilities in Northern Italy. Saliva samples will be collected at birth to assess the methylation status of specific genes linked with stress regulation in mothers and newborns. Mothers will provide retrospective data on COVID-19-related stress during pregnancy. At 3, 6 and 12 months, mothers will provide data on child behavioural and socioemotional outcomes, their own psychological status (stress, depressive and anxious symptoms) and coping strategies. At 12 months, infants and mothers will be videotaped during semistructured interaction to assess maternal sensitivity and infant's relational functioning.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Ethics Committee (Pavia). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international scientific conferences. Trial registration number NCT04540029; Pre-results.

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Section: Expected Results and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The MOM-COPE research project: Measuring the outcomes of maternal COVID19-related prenatal exposure

Provenzi¹,

Giorda

Biasucci

et al. 2020

Psychoneuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The period that begins with conception and covers the first 2 years of life is suggested as the most active period in terms of epigenetic regulation, especially in terms of DNA imprinting. Therefore, this period is referred to as “1000 day period” ( Shenderov and Midtvedt, 2014 ; Walker, 2016 ; Indrio et al, 2017 ; Linner and Almgren, 2020 ). Growing amount of evidence supports that epigenetic programming affected by early nutrition may result in adult disease in the long run ( Shenderov and Midtvedt, 2014 ; Indrio et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetic Programming Through Breast Milk and Its Impact on Milk-Siblings Mating

et al. 2020

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Background The epigenetic effects of transmission of certain regulatory molecules, such as miRNAs, through maternal milk on future generations, are still unknown and have not been fully understood yet. We hypothesized that breastfeeding regularly by adoptive-mother may cause transmission of miRNAs as epigenetic regulating factors to the infant, and the marriage of milk-siblings may cause various pathologies in the future generations. Results A cross-fostering model using a/a and A vy /a mice had been established. F2 milk-sibling and F2 control groups were obtained from mating of milk-siblings or unrelated mice. Randomized selected animals in the both F2 groups were sacrificed for miRNA expression studies and the remainings were followed for phenotypic changes (coat color, obesity, hyperglycemia, liver pathology, and life span). The lifespan in the F2 milk-sibling group was shorter than the control group (387 vs 590 days, p = 0.011) and they were more obese during the aging period. Histopathological examination of liver tissues revealed abnormal findings in F2 milk-sibling group. In order to understand the epigenetic mechanisms leading to these phenotypic changes, we analyzed miRNA expression differences between offspring of milk-sibling and control matings and focused on the signaling pathways regulating lifespan and metabolism. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with pathways regulating metabolism, survival, and cancer development such as the PI3K-Akt, ErbB, mTOR, and MAPK, insulin signaling pathways. We further analyzed the expression patterns of miR-186-5p, miR-141-3p, miR-345-5p, and miR-34c-5p and their candidate target genes Mapk8, Gsk3b, and Ppargc1a in ovarian and liver tissues. Conclusion Our findings support for the first time that the factors modifying the epigenetic mechanisms may be transmitted by breast milk and these epigenetic interactions may be transferred transgenerationally. Results also suggested hereditary epigenetic effects of cross-fostering on future generations and the impact of mother-infant dyad on epigenetic programming.

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“…34 There are indications that experiences early in life have implications on health and disease over the lifespan, partly governed by epigenetic mechanisms. 42 To our knowledge, no studies have explored the epigenetic consequences of SSC. A systematic review describes the impact of the neonatal intensive care unit environment on the infant microbiome 43 but it is not known whether SSC affects the infant's microbiome.…”

Section: Socioeconomic Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Immediate parent-infant skin-to-skin study (IPISTOSS): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial on very preterm infants cared for in skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and potential physiological, epigenetic, psychological and neurodevelopmental consequences

et al. 2020

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IntroductionIn Scandinavia, 6% of infants are born preterm, before 37 gestational weeks. Instead of continuing in the in-utero environment, maturation needs to occur in a neonatal unit with support of vital functions, separated from the mother’s warmth, nutrition and other benefits. Preterm infants face health and neurodevelopment challenges that may also affect the family and society at large. There is evidence of benefit from immediate and continued skin-to-skin contact (SSC) for term and moderately preterm infants and their parents but there is a knowledge gap on its effect on unstable very preterm infants when initiated immediately after birth.Methods and analysisIn this ongoing randomised controlled trial from Stavanger, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden, we are studying 150 infants born at 28+0 to 32+6 gestational weeks, randomised to receive care immediately after birth in SSC with a parent or conventionally in an incubator. The primary outcome is cardiorespiratory stability according to the stability of the cardiorespiratory system in the preterm score. Secondary outcomes are autonomic stability, thermal control, infection control, SSC time, breastfeeding and growth, epigenetic profile, microbiome profile, infant behaviour, stress resilience, sleep integrity, cortical maturation, neurodevelopment, mother-infant attachment and attunement, and parent experience and mental health.Ethics and disseminationThe study has ethical approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (2017/1135-31/3, 2019–03361) and the Norwegian Regional Ethical Committee (2015/889). The study is conducted according to good clinical practice and the Helsinki declaration. The results of the study will increase the knowledge about the mechanisms behind the effects of SSC for very preterm infants by dissemination to the scientific community through articles and at conferences, and to the society through parenting classes and magazines.Study statusRecruiting since April 2018. Expected trial termination June 2021.Trial registration numberNCT03521310 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

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Epigenetic programming—The important first 1000 days

Cited by 58 publications

References 57 publications

The MOM-COPE research project: Measuring the outcomes of maternal COVID19-related prenatal exposure

The MOM-COPE research project: Measuring the outcomes of maternal COVID19-related prenatal exposure

Epigenetic Programming Through Breast Milk and Its Impact on Milk-Siblings Mating

Immediate parent-infant skin-to-skin study (IPISTOSS): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial on very preterm infants cared for in skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and potential physiological, epigenetic, psychological and neurodevelopmental consequences

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