Christopher L. Coe, PhD

Position title: Professor Emeritus, Psychology

PhD, State University of New York, Brooklyn

Contact Information

UW-Madison
153 Primate Lab, Harlow
22 N. Charter Street
Madison, WI 53715
ccoe@wisc.edu

Research Statement

It has become increasingly evident that the in utero environment not only affects fetal development, but can also have a lasting influence on postnatal development. Our research program has been investigating several aspects of this relationship using a nonhuman primate model. For example, we have been studying the influence of fetal weight gain and infant birth weight on postnatal growth and later reproductive health (Price, Hyde, & Coe, 1999; Price & Coe, 2000). In addition, we have been exploring the significance of the prenatal transfer of maternal iron stores to the fetus, as a predictor of risk for the development of iron deficiency anemia in the infant during the first year of life. Our studies are assessing how anemia may influence the maturation of brain dopamine systems, and the rate of myelination of neuronal pathways in the developing infant (Geguchadze, Coe, Lubach, Clardy, Beard, & Connor, 2008). Finally, in other experiments we have been assessing how maternal stress during pregnancy may affect the maturation of the infant’s immune system, and the risk for viral infection after birth. These studies are also evaluating the possible effects of maternal flu infection during pregnancy on the development of several sensitive brain regions in the baby, especially with regard to the significance of the gestational timing of the infection.

Among the many mechanisms implicated in mediating the influence of prenatal factors on postnatal development is a disruption of the normal asymmetry of the body, and especially in the brain. Another facet of our research program concerns the relationship between asymmetrical activation patterns of the cerebral cortex and the immune system. These immune studies have been conducted in both healthy human subjects, as well as individuals who experienced unilateral hemispheric damage in the perinatal period or young adulthood. Persistent alterations in the physiological set points for certain immune responses have been found. (Rogers, Coe, & Karaszewski, 1998).

Selected Publications

Hong, J., Kapoor, A., DaWalt, L. S., Maltman, N., Kim, B., Berry-Kravis, E. M., Almeida, D., Coe, C., & Mailick, M. (2021). Stress and genetics influence hair cortisol in FMR1 premutation carrier mothers of children with fragile X syndrome. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 129, 105266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105266
Dean, D. C., 3rd, Madrid, A., Planalp, E. M., Moody, J. F., Papale, L. A., Knobel, K. M., Wood, E. K., McAdams, R. M., Coe, C. L., Hill Goldsmith, H., Davidson, R. J., Alisch, R. S., & Kling, P. J. (2021). Cord blood DNA methylation modifications in infants are associated with white matter microstructure in the context of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety. Scientific reports, 11(1), 12181. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91642-0
Kapoor A, Lubach GR, Ziegler TE, Coe CL. (2016) Hormone levels in neonatal hair reflect prior maternal stress exposure during pregnancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 66:111-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.01.010.
Simpson IA, Ponnuru P, Klinger ME, Myers RL, Devraj K, Coe CL, Lubach GR, Carruthers A, Connor JR. (2015) A novel model for brain iron uptake: introducing the concept of regulation. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 35(1):48-57. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2014.168.
Coe CL, Lubach GR. (2014) Vital and vulnerable functions of the primate placenta critical for infant health and brain development. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 35(4):439-446.
Calabrese E, Badea A, Coe CL, Lubach GR, Styner MA, Johnson GA. (2014) Investigating the tradeoffs between spatial resolution and diffusion sampling for brain mapping with diffusion tractography: Time well spent?. Human Brain Mapping. 35(11):5667-85.
Nelson AM, Coe CL, Juckett MB, Rumble ME, Rathouz PJ, Hematti P, Costanzo ES. (2014) Sleep quality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: longitudinal trajectories and biobehavioral correlates. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 18;0.
Wong JD, Mailick MR, Greenberg JS, Hong J, Coe CL. (2014) Daily Work Stress and Awakening Cortisol in Mothers of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Fragile X Syndrome. Family Relations. 63(1):135-147.
Song J, Mailick MR, Ryff CD, Coe CL, Greenberg JS, Hong J. (2014) Allostatic load in parents of children with developmental disorders: Moderating influence of positive affect. Journal of Health Psychology. 19(2):262-72.
Costanzo ES, Juckett MB, Coe CL. (2013) Biobehavioral influences on recovery following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Brain, Behavior and Immunity. 30 Suppl:S68-74.
Wong JD, Seltzer MM, Greenberg JS, Hong J, Almeida DM, Coe CL. (2012) Stressful life events and daily stressors affect awakening cortisol level in midlife mothers of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Aging and Mental Health. 16(8):939-49.
Willette AA, Coe CL, Colman RJ, Bendlin BB, Kastman EK, Field AS, Alexander AL, Allison DB, Weindruch RH, Johnson SC. (2011) Calorie restriction reduces psychological stress reactivity and its association with brain volume and microstructure in aged rhesus monkeys. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print].
Coe CL, Lubach GR, Bianco L, Beard JL. (2009) A history of iron deficiency anemia during infancy alters brain monoamine activity later in juvenile monkeys. Developmental Psychobiology. 51(3):301-9.
Shirtcliff EA, Coe CL, Pollak SD. (2009) Early childhood stress is associated with elevated antibody levels to herpes simplex virus type 1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 24;106(8):2963-7.
Lubach GR, Coe CL. (2008) Selective impairment of cognitive performance in the young monkey following recovery from iron deficiency. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 29(1):11-7.
Geguchadze RN, Coe CL, Lubach GR, Clardy TW, Beard JL, Connor JR. (2008) CSF proteomic analysis reveals persistent iron deficiency-induced alterations in non-human primate infants. Journal of Neurochemistry. 105(1):127-36.
Coe CL, Laudenslager ML. (2007) Psychosocial influences on immunity, including effects on immune maturation and senescence. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 21(8):1000-8.