Epigenetic Signatures May Explain the Relationship between Socioeconomic Position and Risk of Mental Illness: Preliminary Findings from an Urban Community-Based Sample

Citation

Uddin, Monica; Galea, Sandro; Chang, Shun-Chiao; Koenen, Karestan C.; Goldmann, Emily S.; Wildman, Derek E.; & Aiello, Allison E. (2013). Epigenetic Signatures May Explain the Relationship between Socioeconomic Position and Risk of Mental Illness: Preliminary Findings from an Urban Community-Based Sample. Biodemography and Social Biology, 59(1), 68-84. PMCID: PMC3754421

Abstract

Low socioeconomic position (SEP) has previously been linked to a number of negative health indicators, including poor mental health. The biologic mechanisms linking SEP and mental health remain poorly understood. Recent work suggests that social exposures influence DNA methylation in a manner salient to mental health. We conducted a pilot investigation to assess whether SEP, measured as educational attainment, modifies the association between genomic methylation profiles and traumatic stress in a trauma-exposed sample. Results show that methylation x SEP interactions occur preferentially in genes pertaining to nervous system function, suggesting a plausible biological pathway by which SEP may enhance sensitivity to stress and, in turn, risk of posttraumatic stress disorder. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Biodemography and Social Biology for the following free supplemental resource: Supplementary tables of full model and functional annotation clustering results..]

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19485565.2013.774627

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2013

Journal Title

Biodemography and Social Biology

Author(s)

Uddin, Monica
Galea, Sandro
Chang, Shun-Chiao
Koenen, Karestan C.
Goldmann, Emily S.
Wildman, Derek E.
Aiello, Allison E.

PMCID

PMC3754421

ORCiD

Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537