Grandmaternal stress during pregnancy and DNA methylation of the third generation: an epigenome-wide association study.

ABSTRACT: Stress during pregnancy may impact subsequent generations, which is demonstrated by an increased susceptibility to childhood and adulthood health problems in the children and grandchildren. Although the importance of the prenatal environment is well reported with regards to future physical and emotional outcomes, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that mediate the long-term consequences of early stress across generations. Recent studies have identified DNA methylation as a possible mediator of the impact of prenatal stress in the offspring. Whether psychosocial stress during pregnancy also affects DNA methylation of the grandchildren is still not known. In the present study we examined the multigenerational hypothesis, that is, grandmaternal exposure to psychosocial stress duri

SUBMITTER: Serpeloni F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5611722 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature