Transgenerational impact of intimate partner violence on methylation in the promoter of the glucocorticoid receptor.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal exposure to maternal stress can have lifelong implications for psychological function, such as behavioral problems and even the development of mental illness. Previous research suggests that this is due to transgenerational epigenetic programming of genes operating in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, it is not known whether intrauterine exposure to maternal stress affects the epigenetic state of these genes beyond infancy. Here, we analyze the methylation status of the GR gene in mothers and their children, at 10-19 years after birth. We combine these data with a retrospective evaluation of maternal exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). Methylation of the mother's GR gene was not affected by IPV. For the first time,

SUBMITTER: Radtke KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3309516 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature