Hidden pandemic: COVID-19-related stress, SLC6A4 methylation, and infants' temperament at 3 months

Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 2;11(1):15658. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95053-z.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a collective trauma that may have enduring stress effects during sensitive periods, such as pregnancy. Prenatal stress may result in epigenetic signatures of stress-related genes (e.g., the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) that may in turn influence infants' behavioral development. In April 2020, we launched a longitudinal cohort study to assess the behavioral and epigenetic vestiges of COVID-19-related prenatal stress exposure in mothers and infants. COVID-19-related prenatal stress was retrospectively assessed at birth. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed in thirteen CpG sites in mothers and infants' buccal cells. Infants' temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants' SLC6A4 methylation in seven CpG sites. SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants' temperament at 3 months.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / genetics
  • COVID-19* / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Pandemics*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / epidemiology
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / genetics
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2 / metabolism*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* / genetics
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological*

Substances

  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins