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DNA methylation at stress‐related genes is associated with exposure to early life institutionalization
Author(s) -
Amy L.,
Hollister Brittany M.,
Humphreys Kathryn L.,
Childebayeva Ainash,
Esteves Kyle,
Zeanah Charles H.,
Fox Nathan A.,
Nelson Charles A.,
Drury Stacy S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.23010
Subject(s) - institutionalisation , dna methylation , gene , methylation , genetics , dna , biology , dna damage , medicine , psychiatry , gene expression
Objectives Differences in DNA methylation have been associated with early life adversity, suggesting that alterations in methylation function as one pathway through which adverse early environments are biologically embedded. This study examined associations between exposure to institutional care, quantified as the proportion of time in institutional care at specified follow‐up assessment ages, and DNA methylation status in two stress‐related genes: FKBP5 and SLC6A4 . Materials and Methods We analyzed data from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, which is a prospective study in which children reared in institutional settings were randomly assigned (mean age 22 months) to either newly created foster care or care as usual (to remain in their current placement) and prospectively followed. A group of children from the same geographic area, with no history of institutionalized caregiving, were also recruited. DNA methylation status was determined in DNA extracted from buccal epithelial cells of children at age 12. Results An inverse association was identified such that more time spent in institutional care was associated with lower DNA methylation at specific CpG sites within both genes. Discussion These results suggest a lasting impact of early severe social deprivation on methylation patterns in these genes, and contribute to a growing literature linking early adversity and epigenetic variation in children. Am J Phys Anthropol 161:84–93, 2016.. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.