Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background During gestation, stressors to the fetus, including viral exposure or maternal psychological distress, can fundamentally alter the neonatal epigenome, and may be associated with long-term impaired developmental outcomes. The impact of in utero exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Genomics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01707-4 |
| _version_ | 1797636592346595328 |
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| author | Kristen Kocher Surajit Bhattacharya Nickie Niforatos-Andescavage Miguel Almalvez Diedtra Henderson Eric Vilain Catherine Limperopoulos Emmanuèle C. Délot |
| author_facet | Kristen Kocher Surajit Bhattacharya Nickie Niforatos-Andescavage Miguel Almalvez Diedtra Henderson Eric Vilain Catherine Limperopoulos Emmanuèle C. Délot |
| author_sort | Kristen Kocher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During gestation, stressors to the fetus, including viral exposure or maternal psychological distress, can fundamentally alter the neonatal epigenome, and may be associated with long-term impaired developmental outcomes. The impact of in utero exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn epigenome has yet to be described. Methods This study aimed to determine whether there are unique epigenetic signatures in newborns who experienced otherwise healthy pregnancies that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (Project RESCUE). The pre-pandemic control and pandemic cohorts (Project RESCUE) included in this study are part of a prospective observational and longitudinal cohort study that evaluates the impact of elevated prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood neurodevelopment. Using buccal swabs collected at birth, differential DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and linear regression analysis. Pathway analysis and gene ontology enrichment were performed on resultant gene lists. Results Widespread differential methylation was found between neonates exposed in utero to the pandemic and pre-pandemic neonates. In contrast, there were no apparent epigenetic differences associated with maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Differential methylation was observed among genomic sites that underpin important neurological pathways that have been previously reported in the literature to be differentially methylated because of prenatal stress, such as NR3C1. Conclusions The present study reveals potential associations between exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy and subsequent changes in the newborn epigenome. While this finding warrants further investigation, it is a point that should be considered in any study assessing newborn DNA methylation studies obtained during this period, even in otherwise healthy pregnancies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:37:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-168e1f8a9ef94167ba2287c59492cbb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1755-8794 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:37:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-168e1f8a9ef94167ba2287c59492cbb42023-11-05T12:31:47ZengBMCBMC Medical Genomics1755-87942023-10-0116111210.1186/s12920-023-01707-4Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemicKristen Kocher0Surajit Bhattacharya1Nickie Niforatos-Andescavage2Miguel Almalvez3Diedtra Henderson4Eric Vilain5Catherine Limperopoulos6Emmanuèle C. Délot7Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Research & Innovation CampusCenter for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Research & Innovation CampusDeveloping Brain Institute, Children’s National HospitalInstitute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of CaliforniaDeveloping Brain Institute, Children’s National HospitalInstitute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of CaliforniaDeveloping Brain Institute, Children’s National HospitalCenter for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Research & Innovation CampusAbstract Background During gestation, stressors to the fetus, including viral exposure or maternal psychological distress, can fundamentally alter the neonatal epigenome, and may be associated with long-term impaired developmental outcomes. The impact of in utero exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn epigenome has yet to be described. Methods This study aimed to determine whether there are unique epigenetic signatures in newborns who experienced otherwise healthy pregnancies that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (Project RESCUE). The pre-pandemic control and pandemic cohorts (Project RESCUE) included in this study are part of a prospective observational and longitudinal cohort study that evaluates the impact of elevated prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood neurodevelopment. Using buccal swabs collected at birth, differential DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and linear regression analysis. Pathway analysis and gene ontology enrichment were performed on resultant gene lists. Results Widespread differential methylation was found between neonates exposed in utero to the pandemic and pre-pandemic neonates. In contrast, there were no apparent epigenetic differences associated with maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Differential methylation was observed among genomic sites that underpin important neurological pathways that have been previously reported in the literature to be differentially methylated because of prenatal stress, such as NR3C1. Conclusions The present study reveals potential associations between exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy and subsequent changes in the newborn epigenome. While this finding warrants further investigation, it is a point that should be considered in any study assessing newborn DNA methylation studies obtained during this period, even in otherwise healthy pregnancies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01707-4EpigeneticsDNA methylationSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 pandemicPerinatal stress |
| spellingShingle | Kristen Kocher Surajit Bhattacharya Nickie Niforatos-Andescavage Miguel Almalvez Diedtra Henderson Eric Vilain Catherine Limperopoulos Emmanuèle C. Délot Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Medical Genomics Epigenetics DNA methylation SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 pandemic Perinatal stress |
| title | Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | genome wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Epigenetics DNA methylation SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 pandemic Perinatal stress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-023-01707-4 |
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