Association of childhood chronic physical aggression with a DNA methylation signature in adult human T cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic physical aggression (CPA) is characterized by frequent use of physical aggression from early childhood to adolescence. Observed in approximately 5% of males, CPA is associated with early childhood adverse environments and long-term negative consequences. Alterations in DNA methylation, a covalent modification of DNA that regulates genome function, have been associated with early childhood adversity.

Aims

To test the hypothesis that a trajectory of chronic physical aggression during childhood is associated with a distinct DNA methylation profile during adulthood.

Methods

We analyzed genome-wide promoter DNA methylation profiles of T cells from two groups of adult males assessed annually for frequency of physical aggression between 6 and 15 years of a

SUBMITTER: Provencal N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3972178 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature