@article{ref1,
title="Child maltreatment and NR3C1 exon 1(F) methylation, link with deregulated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and psychopathology: a systematic review",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2021",
author="Wadji, D. L. and Tandon, T. and Ketcha Wanda, G. J. M. and Wicky, C. and Dentz, A. and Hasler, G. and Morina, N. and Martin-Soelch, C.",
volume="122",
number="",
pages="e105304-e105304",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Epigenetics offers one promising method for assessing the psychobiological response to stressful experiences during childhood. In particular, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation has been associated with an altered hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the onset of mental disorders. Equally, there are promising leads regarding the association between the methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1-1(F)) and child maltreatment and its link with HPA axis and psychopathology. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to assess the evidence of a link among child maltreatment, NR3C1-1(F) methylation, HPA axis deregulation, and symptoms of psychopathology. <br><br>METHODS: We followed the Prisma guidelines and identified 11 articles that met our inclusion criteria. <br><br>RESULTS: We found that eight studies (72.72%) reported increased NR3C1-1(F) methylation associated with child maltreatment, specifically physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence, while three studies (27.27%) found no significant association. Furthermore, a minority of studies (36.36%) provided additional measures of symptoms of psychopathology or cortisol in order to examine the link among NR3C1-1(F) methylation, HPA axis deregulation, and psychopathology in a situation of child maltreatment. These results suggest that NR3C1-1(F) hypermethylation is positively associated with higher HPA axis activity, i.e. increased production of cortisol, as well as symptoms of psychopathology, including emotional lability-negativity, externalizing behavior symptoms, and depressive symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSION: NR3C1-1(F) methylation could be one mechanism that links altered HPA axis activity with the development of psychopathology.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105304",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105304"
}