Maternal SARS-CoV-2 exposure alters infant DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infection during pregnancy can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. The impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on infant neurodevelopment is poorly understood. The maternal immune response to infection may be mimicked in rodent models of maternal immune activation which recapitulate altered neurodevelopment and behavioural disturbances in the offspring. In these models, epigenetic mechanisms, in particular DNA methylation, are one pathway through which this risk is conferred in utero to offspring. We hypothesised that in utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in humans may alter infant DNA methylation, particularly in genes associated with neurodevelopment. We aimed to test this hypothesis in a pilot sample of children in Victoria, Austral

SUBMITTER: Hill RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9758784 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature