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Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with epigenetic modifications of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor‐6 exon in adolescent offspring
Author(s) -
ToledoRodriguez Maria,
Lotfipour Shahrdad,
Leonard Gabriel,
Perron Michel,
Richer Louis,
Veillette Suzanne,
Pausova Zdenka,
Paus Tomáš
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.31109
Subject(s) - dna methylation , epigenetics , offspring , neurotrophic factors , brain derived neurotrophic factor , exon , in utero , methylation , biology , bisulfite sequencing , pregnancy , endocrinology , medicine , genetics , gene , gene expression , fetus , receptor
Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking (PEMCS) is associated with variations in brain and behavior in adolescence. Epigenetic mechanisms may mediate some of the consequences of PEMCS through methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in genes important for brain development, such as the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ). In the current study, we used bisulfite sequencing to assess DNA methylation of the BDNF promoter in the blood of adolescents whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. We demonstrate that PEMCS is associated with higher rates of DNA methylation in the BDNF‐6 exon. These results suggest that PEMCS may lead to long‐term down‐regulation of BDNF expression via the increase of DNA methylation in its promoter region. Such mechanisms could, in turn, lead to modifications in both development and plasticity of the brain exposed in utero to maternal cigarette smoking. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.