Valeska Stonawski, Stefan Frey, Yulia Golub, Nicolas Rohleder, Jennifer Kriebel, Tamme W Goecke, Peter A Fasching, Matthias W Beckmann, Johannes Kornhuber, Oliver Kratz, Gunther H Moll, Hartmut Heinrich, Anna Eichler
Epigenetic DNA modifications in genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are discussed as a mechanism underlying the association between prenatal depression and altered child HPA activity. In a longitudinal study, DNA methylation changes related to prenatal depressive symptoms were investigated in 167 children aged 6 to 9 years. At six candidate genes, 126 cytosine-guanine dinucleotides were considered without correcting for multiple testing due to the exploratory nature of the study. Further associations with the basal child HPA activity were examined...
April 2, 2018: Development and Psychopathology