Dataset Information

Associations Between Maternal Lifetime Stress and Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in an Urban Multiethnic Cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Disrupted placental functioning due to stress can have lifelong implications. Cumulative stress and trauma are likely to have lasting impacts on maternal physiological functioning and offspring development, resulting in increased risk for later-life complex disorders for which racial disparities exist.

Methods

This study examined the association between maternal lifetime stress and placental mitochondrial DNA mutational load in an urban multiethnic cohort. Maternal lifetime exposure to stressful events was assessed using the validated Life Stressor Checklist-Revised. Whole mitochondrial DNA sequencing was performed and mutations were determined for 365 placenta samples with complete exposure and covariate data. Multivariable regression was used to model maternal lifetime stress in relation to placental mitochondrial DNA mutational load. Racial/ethnic differences were examined by cross-product terms and contrast statements. Gene-wise analyses were conducted.

Results

We identified 13,189 heteroplasmies (Phred score > 10,000, minor allele frequency < 0.5, number of mutant reads > 1). Women experiencing increased psychosocial stress over their lifetime exhibited a higher number of total placental mitochondrial mutations (β = .23, 95% confidence interval = .03 to .42) and heteroplasmic mutations (β = .18, 95% confidence interval = .05 to .31) but not homoplasmic mutations (β = -.008, 95% confidence interval = -.03 to .01); the strongest associations were observed among Black women and genes coding for NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase subunits.

Conclusions

Cumulative maternal lifetime stress is associated with a greater mitochondrial mutational load, particularly among Black women. The impact of racial/ethnic differences in mutational load on placental function directly affecting offspring development and/or leading to chronic disease disparities warrants further investigation.

SUBMITTER: Brunst KJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7889635 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Associations Between Maternal Lifetime Stress and Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in an Urban Multiethnic Cohort.

Brunst Kelly J KJ Zhang Li L Zhang Xiang X Baccarelli Andrea A AA Bloomquist Tessa T Wright Rosalind J RJ

Biological psychiatry 20200918 6

<h4>Background</h4>Disrupted placental functioning due to stress can have lifelong implications. Cumulative stress and trauma are likely to have lasting impacts on maternal physiological functioning and offspring development, resulting in increased risk for later-life complex disorders for which racial disparities exist.<h4>Methods</h4>This study examined the association between maternal lifetime stress and placental mitochondrial DNA mutational load in an urban multiethnic cohort. Maternal life ...[more]

PMID: 33229036

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Dataset Information

Associations Between Maternal Lifetime Stress and Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in an Urban Multiethnic Cohort.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Associations Between Maternal Lifetime Stress and Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in an Urban Multiethnic Cohort.

Similar Datasets

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