Depressed Mood in Pregnancy, Birthweight, and DNA Methylation of Imprint Regulatory Elements

Background: Depressed mood in pregnancy has been linked to low birthweight (LBW), a risk factor for adult-onset chronic diseases in offspring. Objective: Examine maternal depressed mood in relation to birthweight and evaluate the role of DNA methylation at regulatory sequences of imprinted genes in this association. Methods: We measured depressed mood among 922 pregnant women using the CES-D scale and obtained birthweight data from hospital records. Using bisulfite pyrosequencing of cord blood DNA from 508 infants, we measured methylation at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) regulating imprinted genes IGF2/H19, DLK1/MEG3, MEST, PEG3, PEG10/SGCE, NNAT and PLAGL1. Multiple regression models were used to examine the relationship between depressed mood, birthweight and DMR methylation levels. Results: Severe depressed mood was associated with a >3-fold higher risk of LBW (birthweight 4500grams) infants had 5.9% (p=0.02) higher methylation at PLAGL1 DMR compared to normal birthweight infants. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that severe maternal depressed mood in pregnancy is associated with LBW, and MEG3 and IGF2 plasticity may play important roles.Master of Public Healt