Effects of Pharmacologic Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome on DNA Methylation and Neurobehavior: A Prospective Cohort Study.
J Pediatr
; 243: 21-26, 2022 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34971656
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether pharmacologic treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is associated with changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) and improvements in neonatal neurobehavior. STUDYDESIGN:
Buccal swabs were collected from 37 neonates before and after morphine treatment for NAS. Genomic DNA was extracted, and DNAm was examined at 4 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites within the OPRM1 gene. Assessment with the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS) was also performed before and after NAS treatment. Changes in DNAm (DNAmpost-tx - DNAmpre-tx) and NNNS summary scores (NNNSpost-tx - NNNSpre-tx) were then calculated. Path analysis was used to examine associations among pharmacologic treatment (length of treatment [LOT] and total dose of morphine), changes in DNAm, and changes in NNNS summary scores.RESULTS:
DNAm was significantly decreased from pretreatment to post-treatment at 1 of 4 CpG sites within the OPRM1 gene. Neonates also demonstrated decreased excitability, hypertonia, lethargy, signs of stress and abstinence, and increased quality of movement and regulation from pretreatment to post-treatment. Longer LOT and higher morphine dose were associated with greater decreases in DNAm; greater decreases in DNAm were associated with greater decreases in excitability and hypertonia on the NNNS.CONCLUSIONS:
Pharmacologic treatment of NAS is associated with decreased DNAm of the OPRM1 gene and improved neonatal neurobehavior. Epigenetic changes may play a role in these changes in neonatal neurobehavior.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome de Abstinência Neonatal
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
/
Newborn
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article