Child abuse in public institutions: Adversity genes involved (Review)

The physical and mental health of children, as well as the effort to ensure a safe environment for their upbringing, have been the main concern of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) since 1989; a number of countries worldwide have formed numerous organizations to defend these rights. Child abuse, in all its forms, is a major public health concern, affecting millions of children each year worldwide. A number of studies and research have been performed in order to scientifically determine that early social adversity, as well as the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of a child and neglect, lead to alterations in DNA methylation. The present review article summarizes the epigenetic effects resulting from early‑life stressful events, such as child abuse, child maltreatment, institutionalization, neglect, orphanhood and/or abandonment. These stressors can lead to a disruption of physiological biological pathways, and alter the methylation profiles in crucial regulatory pathways, such as glucocorticoid receptor signaling and cytokine signaling in immune cell function.