Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy.
Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Jun;125:654-666. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.006. Epub 2021 Mar 13.
In recent years, an increasing number of studies documented potential links between parental care and epigenetic mechanisms. The present systematic review focuses on the potential association and interrelationship between attachment-related dimensions and DNA methylation in human studies. We performed a literature review using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. Thirteen papers were included in the review. Findings support significant associations between attachment-related dimensions and epigenetic status in studies which considered different populations, age ranges, attachment measures and peripheral tissues. Although research in this area is still under investigation, available results suggest that DNA methylation associated with attachment-related dimensions might affect the development of stress regulation system and social-emotional capacities, thus contributing to the emerging phenotypic outcomes. However, identifying mediator and moderator effects in the interrelationship between these parameters was problematic owing to heterogeneous methodologies. Finally, we discuss clinical implications, unanswered questions, and future directions for human development in epigenetics research.
近年来，越来越多的研究记录了父母养育与表观遗传机制之间的潜在联系。本系统评价侧重于人类研究中与依恋相关的维度和 DNA 甲基化之间的潜在关联和相互关系。我们使用电子数据库（如 PubMed、Scopus、Web of Science 和 EBSCOhost）进行了文献回顾。综述共纳入 13 篇论文。研究结果支持在考虑不同人群、年龄范围、依恋测量和外周组织的研究中，与依恋相关的维度与表观遗传状态之间存在显著关联。尽管该领域的研究仍在进行中，但现有结果表明，与依恋相关的维度相关的 DNA 甲基化可能会影响压力调节系统和社会情感能力的发展，从而有助于新兴的表型结果。然而，由于方法学的异质性，在这些参数之间的相互关系中确定中介和调节效应存在问题。最后，我们讨论了在表观遗传学研究中人类发展的临床意义、未解决的问题和未来方向。
