ABSTRACT

Previous studies suggest epigenetic alterations may contribute to the association between maternal prenatal depression and adverse offspring outcomes. Developmental researchers have recently begun to examine these associations in relation to epigenetic age acceleration/deceleration, a biomarker of developmental risk that reflects the deviation between epigenetic age and chronological age. In the perinatal period, preliminary studies indicate that maternal prenatal depression may lead to epigenetic age deceleration in newborns, which may predict adverse developmental outcomes. The present study examined the relationship between maternal prenatal exposures (i.e., depression, stress, and SSRI use) and offspring epigenetic age deceleration in 303 mother-offspring dyads. Women were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy and followed longitudinally until delivery. Maternal depression, perceived stress, and SSRI use were assessed at each prenatal visit. Newborn epigenetic age was determined via cord blood samples. Results indicated maternal prenatal stress was not associated with newborn epigenetic age deceleration (ΔR² = 0.002; p = 0.37). Maternal prenatal depression was associated with decelerated epigenetic age (ΔR² = 0.01, p = 0.04), but this relationship did not hold when accounting for maternal use of SSRIs (ΔR² = 0.002, p = 0.43). Conversely, maternal SSRI use significantly predicted newborn epigenetic age deceleration over and above the influence of maternal depression (ΔR² = 0.03, p = 0.001). These findings suggest maternal prenatal SSRI use may significantly contribute to the previously documented association between maternal prenatal depression and epigenetic age deceleration. Further studies are needed to examine how these epigenetic differences at birth may contribute to adverse outcomes in later development.

摘要

先前的研究表明，表观遗传改变可能有助于母体产前抑郁症与后代不良结局之间的关联。发育研究人员最近开始研究这些与表观遗传年龄加速/减速相关的关联，这是一种发育风险的生物标志物，反映了表观遗传年龄和实际年龄之间的偏差。在围产期，初步研究表明，母亲产前抑郁可能导致新生儿表观遗传年龄减慢，这可能预示着不良的发育结局。本研究在 303 对母子对中检查了母体产前暴露（即抑郁、压力和 SSRI 使用）与后代表观遗传年龄减慢之间的关系。妇女在怀孕的前三个月被招募并纵向跟踪直到分娩。在每次产前检查时评估产妇抑郁、感知压力和 SSRI 使用情况。通过脐带血样本确定新生儿表观遗传年龄。结果表明，母体产前压力与新生儿表观遗传年龄减速无关（ΔR²  = 0.002；p = 0.37)。产妇产前抑郁症与表观遗传年龄减慢有关（ΔR ²  = 0.01，p = 0.04），但在考虑到产妇使用 SSRIs 时，这种关系并不成立（ΔR ²  = 0.002，p = 0.43）。相反，母体 SSRI 的使用显着预测新生儿表观遗传年龄减速，超过母体抑郁症的影响（ΔR ²  = 0.03，p= 0.001)。这些发现表明，母体产前 SSRI 的使用可能显着促进了先前记录的母体产前抑郁与表观遗传年龄减速之间的关联。需要进一步的研究来检验这些出生时的表观遗传差异如何导致后期发育的不良后果。