Citation

Shields AE, Wise LA, Ruiz-Narvaez EA, Seddighzadeh B, Byun HM, Cozier YC, Rosenberg L, Palmer JR, Baccarelli AA. Epigenomics 2016; 8(11): 1507-1517.

Affiliation

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Future Medicine)

DOI

10.2217/epi-2016-0074

PMID

27620456

Abstract

AIM: To investigate childhood abuse victimization in relation to adult DNA methylation levels in a novel region of NR3C1, with emotional support as a possible modifier. MATERIALS & METHODS: 295 participants from the Black Women's Health Study. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compute differences in mean percent methylation levels.

RESULTS: Women reporting childhood abuse victimization exhibited higher mean NR3C1 methylation levels than nonabused women, with a clear dose-response relationship. Childhood emotional support appeared to attenuate associations only among women with the highest levels of physical and sexual abuse.

CONCLUSION: NR3C1 mean methylation was higher among women who reported childhood abuse. Further research is warranted to clarify whether or the extent to which childhood emotional support buffers the association.

Language: en