Prenatal Maternal Stress and Epigenetics: Review of the Human Research

Alterations of the uterine environment might induce long-lasting effects on offspring outcomes in later life. Epigenetics has been considered as one of the most important mechanisms involved in such long-term effects of exposure to stress in utero. In the present review, we summarize a growing body of literature focused on human research, exploring the association between fetal environmental experience and epigenetic change, especially DNA methylation. Evidence from methylation of genes associated with intrautrine adversity has shed light on how DNA methylation patterns may mediate biological processes that are involved in stress regulation. Furthermore, we report on the epigenetic findings from Project Ice Storm, a human model to study prenatal maternal stress. The conclusion of this review is that there is emerging evidence supporting the critical mediating role of epigenetics, highlighting the importance of long-term adaptation and programming through epigenetic mechanisms in response with environmental factors.