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Deng F, Lei J, Qiu J, Zhao C, Wang X, Li M, Sun M, Zhang M, Gao Q. DNA methylation landscape in pregnancy-induced hypertension: progress and challenges. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:77. [PMID: 38978060 PMCID: PMC11229300 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01248-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Gestational hypertension (PIH), especially pre-eclampsia (PE), is a common complication of pregnancy. This condition poses significant risks to the health of both the mother and the fetus. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, may play a role in initiating the earliest pathophysiology of PIH. This article describes the relationship between DNA methylation and placental trophoblast function, genes associated with the placental microenvironment, the placental vascular system, and maternal blood and vascular function, abnormalities of umbilical cord blood and vascular function in the onset and progression of PIH, as well as changes in DNA methylation in the progeny of PIH, in terms of maternal, fetal, and offspring. We also explore the latest research on DNA methylation-based early detection, diagnosis and potential therapeutic strategies for PIH. This will enable the field of DNA methylation research to continue to enhance our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of PIH genes and identify potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengying Deng
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
| | - Junlan Qiu
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Suzhou Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215153, P.R. China
| | - Chenxuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
| | - Xietong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Min Li
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
| | - Miao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China.
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
| | - Meihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Qinqin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Maternal & Fetal Medicine of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan, 250014, China.
- Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
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Eaves LA, Harrington CE, Fry RC. Epigenetic Responses to Nonchemical Stressors: Potential Molecular Links to Perinatal Health Outcomes. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:145-157. [PMID: 38580766 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00435-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We summarize the recent literature investigating exposure to four nonchemical stressors (financial stress, racism, psychosocial stress, and trauma) and DNA methylation, miRNA expression, and mRNA expression. We also highlight the relationships between these epigenetic changes and six critical perinatal outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, childhood allergic disease, and childhood neurocognition). RECENT FINDINGS Multiple studies have found financial stress, psychosocial stress, and trauma to be associated with DNA methylation and/or miRNA and mRNA expression. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of racism. The majority of studies assessed epigenetic or genomic changes in maternal blood, cord blood, or placenta. Several studies included multi-OMIC assessments in which DNA methylation and/or miRNA expression were associated with gene expression. There is strong evidence for the role of epigenetics in driving the health outcomes considered. A total of 22 biomarkers, including numerous HPA axis genes, were identified to be epigenetically altered by both stressors and outcomes. Epigenetic changes related to inflammation, the immune and endocrine systems, and cell growth and survival were highlighted across numerous studies. Maternal exposure to nonchemical stressors is associated with epigenetic and/or genomic changes in a tissue-specific manner among inflammatory, immune, endocrine, and cell growth-related pathways, which may act as mediating pathways to perinatal health outcomes. Future research can test the mediating role of the specific biomarkers identified as linked with both stressors and outcomes. Understanding underlying epigenetic mechanisms altered by nonchemical stressors can provide a better understanding of how chemical and nonchemical exposures interact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cailee E Harrington
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Yan X, Fang Y, Yuan Y, Ding Y, Yu H, Li Y, Shi Q, Gao Y, Zhou X, Zhang D, Yuan E, Zhou H, Zhao X, Zhang L. Combined analysis of the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress on DNA methylation and the transcriptome in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18469. [PMID: 38899809 PMCID: PMC11187809 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome in trophoblast cells under conditions of low oxygen and oxidative stress have major implications for pregnancy-related disorders. However, the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we established models of hypoxia (H group) and oxidative stress (HR group) using HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells and performed combined analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation changes using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing and transcriptome expression changes using RNA sequencing. Our findings revealed that the H group exhibited a higher number of differentially methylated genes and differentially expressed genes than the HR group. In the H group, only 0.90% of all differentially expressed genes displayed simultaneous changes in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression. After the threshold was expanded, this number increased to 6.29% in the HR group. Notably, both the H group and HR group exhibited concurrent alterations in DNA methylation and transcriptome expression within Axon guidance and MAPK signalling pathway. Among the top 25 differentially methylated KEGG pathways in the promoter region, 11 pathways were commonly enriched in H group and HR group, accounting for 44.00%. Among the top 25 KEGG pathways in transcriptome with significant differences between the H group and HR group, 10 pathways were consistent, accounting for 40.00%. By integrating our previous data on DNA methylation from preeclamptic placental tissues, we identified that the ANKRD37 and PFKFB3 genes may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia through DNA methylation-mediated transcriptome expression under hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjing Yan
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yang Fang
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yujie Yuan
- Judicial Appraisal InstitutionThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Yangnan Ding
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yina Li
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Qianqian Shi
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Yongrui Gao
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
| | - Xinyuan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Dongxin Zhang
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory MedicineZhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Enwu Yuan
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory MedicineZhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xin Zhao
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
| | - Linlin Zhang
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for In Vitro Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders of PregnancyZhengzhouChina
- Tianjian Advanced Biomedical LaboratoryZhengzhouChina
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Liu W, Yang X, Mao Z, Du Y, Lassiter C, AlAkwaa FM, Benny PA, Garmire LX. Severe preeclampsia is not associated with significant DNA methylation changes but cell proportion changes in the cord blood - caution on the importance of confounding adjustment. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.31.23294898. [PMID: 37693517 PMCID: PMC10491383 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.31.23294898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Epigenome-wide DNA methylation analysis (EWAS) is an important approach to identify biomarkers for early disease detection and prognosis prediction, yet its results could be confounded by other factors such as cell-type heterogeneity and patient characteristics. In this study, we address the importance of confounding adjustment by examining DNA methylation patterns in cord blood exposed to severe preeclampsia (PE), a prevalent and potentially fatal pregnancy complication. Without such adjustment, a misleading global hypomethylation pattern is obtained. However, after adjusting cell type proportions and patient clinical characteristics, most of the so-called significant CpG methylation changes associated with severe PE disappear. Rather, the major effect of PE on cord blood is through the proportion changes in different cell types. These results are validated using a previously published cord blood DNA methylation dataset, where global hypomethylation pattern was also wrongfully obtained without confounding adjustment. Additionally, several cell types significantly change as gestation progress (eg. granulocyte, nRBC, CD4T, and B cells), further confirming the importance of cell type adjustment in EWAS study of cord blood tissues. Our study urges the community to perform confounding adjustments in EWAS studies, based on cell type heterogeneity and other patient characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Liu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Xiaotong Yang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Zhixin Mao
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Yuheng Du
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Fadhl M AlAkwaa
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Paula A Benny
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Epidemiology, Honolulu, HI
| | - Lana X Garmire
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Jumentier B, Barrot CC, Estavoyer M, Tost J, Heude B, François O, Lepeule J. High-Dimensional Mediation Analysis: A New Method Applied to Maternal Smoking, Placental DNA Methylation, and Birth Outcomes. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:47011. [PMID: 37058433 PMCID: PMC10104171 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-dimensional mediation analysis is an extension of unidimensional mediation analysis that includes multiple mediators, and increasingly it is being used to evaluate the indirect omics-layer effects of environmental exposures on health outcomes. Analyses involving high-dimensional mediators raise several statistical issues. Although many methods have recently been developed, no consensus has been reached about the optimal combination of approaches to high-dimensional mediation analyses. OBJECTIVES We developed and validated a method for high-dimensional mediation analysis (HDMAX2) and applied it to evaluate the causal role of placental DNA methylation in the pathway between exposure to maternal smoking (MS) during pregnancy and gestational age (GA) and birth weight of the baby at birth. METHODS HDMAX2 combines latent factor regression models for epigenome-wide association studies with max2 tests for mediation and considers CpGs and aggregated mediator regions (AMRs). HDMAX2 was carefully evaluated using simulated data and compared to state-of-the-art multidimensional epigenetic mediation methods. Then, HDMAX2 was applied to data from 470 women of the Etude des Déterminants pré et postnatals du développement de la santé de l'Enfant (EDEN) cohort. RESULTS HDMAX2 demonstrated increased power in comparison with state-of-the-art multidimensional mediation methods and identified several AMRs not identified in previous mediation analyses of exposure to MS on birth weight and GA. The results provided evidence for a polygenic architecture of the mediation pathway with a posterior estimate of the overall indirect effect of CpGs and AMRs equal to 44.5g lower birth weight representing 32.1% of the total effect [standard deviation (SD)=60.7g]. HDMAX2 also identified AMRs having simultaneous effects both on GA and on birth weight. Among the top hits of both GA and birth weight analyses, regions located in COASY, BLCAP, and ESRP2 also mediated the relationship between GA and birth weight, suggesting reverse causality in the relationship between GA and the methylome. DISCUSSION HDMAX2 outperformed existing approaches and revealed an unsuspected complexity of the potential causal relationships between exposure to MS and birth weight at the epigenome-wide level. HDMAX2 is applicable to a wide range of tissues and omic layers. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11559.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basile Jumentier
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble INP, TIMC CNRS UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Claire-Cécile Barrot
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble INP, TIMC CNRS UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Maxime Estavoyer
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble INP, TIMC CNRS UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Jorg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Genomique Humaine, CEA – Institut de Biologie François Jacob, University Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université Paris Cité et Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, INRAE, Centre de Recherche en Épidémiologie et StatistiqueS (CRESS), F-75004 Paris, France
| | - Olivier François
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble INP, TIMC CNRS UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
- Inria Grenoble – Rhône-Alpes Inovallée, Montbonnot, France
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
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Zhou G, Fichorova RN, Holzman C, Chen B, Chang C, Kasten EP, Hoffmann HM. Placental circadian lincRNAs and spontaneous preterm birth. Front Genet 2023; 13:1051396. [PMID: 36712876 PMCID: PMC9874002 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1051396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a much higher cell- and/or tissue-specificity compared to mRNAs in most cases, making them excellent candidates for therapeutic applications to reduce off-target effects. Placental long non-coding RNAs have been investigated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (often causing preterm birth (PTB)), but less is known about their role in preterm birth. Preterm birth occurs in 11% of pregnancies and is the most common cause of death among infants in the world. We recently identified that genes that drive circadian rhythms in cells, termed molecular clock genes, are deregulated in maternal blood of women with spontaneous PTB (sPTB) and in the placenta of women with preeclampsia. Next, we focused on circadian genes-correlated long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs, making up most of the long non-coding RNAs), designated as circadian lincRNAs, associated with sPTB. We compared the co-altered circadian transcripts-correlated lincRNAs expressed in placentas of sPTB and term births using two published independent RNAseq datasets (GSE73712 and GSE174415). Nine core clock genes were up- or downregulated in sPTB versus term birth, where the RORA transcript was the only gene downregulated in sPTB across both independent datasets. We found that five circadian lincRNAs (LINC00893, LINC00265, LINC01089, LINC00482, and LINC00649) were decreased in sPTB vs term births across both datasets (p ≤ .0222, FDR≤.1973) and were negatively correlated with the dataset-specific clock genes-based risk scores (correlation coefficient r = -.65 ∼ -.43, p ≤ .0365, FDR≤.0601). Gene set variation analysis revealed that 65 pathways were significantly enriched by these same five differentially expressed lincRNAs, of which over 85% of the pathways could be linked to immune/inflammation/oxidative stress and cell cycle/apoptosis/autophagy/cellular senescence. These findings may improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of spontaneous preterm birth and provide novel insights into the development of potentially more effective and specific therapeutic targets against sPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Zhou
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Guoli Zhou, ; Hanne M. Hoffmann,
| | - Raina N. Fichorova
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Claudia Holzman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Chi Chang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Eric P. Kasten
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States,Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Hanne M. Hoffmann
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Guoli Zhou, ; Hanne M. Hoffmann,
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Wheater ENW, Galdi P, McCartney DL, Blesa M, Sullivan G, Stoye DQ, Lamb G, Sparrow S, Murphy L, Wrobel N, Quigley AJ, Semple S, Thrippleton MJ, Wardlaw JM, Bastin ME, Marioni RE, Cox SR, Boardman JP. DNA methylation in relation to gestational age and brain dysmaturation in preterm infants. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac056. [PMID: 35402911 PMCID: PMC8984700 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is associated with dysconnectivity of structural brain networks and is a leading cause of neurocognitive impairment in childhood. Variation in DNA methylation is associated with early exposure to extrauterine life but there has been little research exploring its relationship with brain development. Using genome-wide DNA methylation data from the saliva of 258 neonates, we investigated the impact of gestational age on the methylome and performed functional analysis to identify enriched gene sets from probes that contributed to differentially methylated probes or regions. We tested the hypothesis that variation in DNA methylation could underpin the association between low gestational age at birth and atypical brain development by linking differentially methylated probes with measures of white matter connectivity derived from diffusion MRI metrics: peak width skeletonized mean diffusivity, peak width skeletonized fractional anisotropy and peak width skeletonized neurite density index. Gestational age at birth was associated with widespread differential methylation at term equivalent age, with genome-wide significant associations observed for 8870 CpG probes (P < 3.6 × 10-8) and 1767 differentially methylated regions. Functional analysis identified 14 enriched gene ontology terms pertaining to cell-cell contacts and cell-extracellular matrix contacts. Principal component analysis of probes with genome-wide significance revealed a first principal component that explained 23.5% of the variance in DNA methylation, and this was negatively associated with gestational age at birth. The first principal component was associated with peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (β = 0.349, P = 8.37 × 10-10) and peak width skeletonized neurite density index (β = 0.364, P = 4.15 × 10-5), but not with peak width skeletonized fraction anisotropy (β = -0.035, P = 0.510); these relationships mirrored the imaging metrics' associations with gestational age at birth. Low gestational age at birth has a profound and widely distributed effect on the neonatal saliva methylome that is apparent at term equivalent age. Enriched gene ontology terms related to cell-cell contacts reveal pathways that could mediate the effect of early life environmental exposures on development. Finally, associations between differential DNA methylation and image markers of white matter tract microstructure suggest that variation in DNA methylation may provide a link between preterm birth and the dysconnectivity of developing brain networks that characterizes atypical brain development in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N. W. Wheater
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Paola Galdi
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Daniel L. McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Manuel Blesa
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Gemma Sullivan
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - David Q. Stoye
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Gillian Lamb
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Sarah Sparrow
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lee Murphy
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nicola Wrobel
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Alan J. Quigley
- Department of Paediatric Radiology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Scott Semple
- Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4SB Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Michael J. Thrippleton
- Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4SB Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joanna M. Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark E. Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Riccardo E. Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Simon R. Cox
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James P. Boardman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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8
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Xu R, Meng X, Pang Y, An H, Wang B, Zhang L, Ye R, Ren A, Li Z, Gong J. Associations of maternal exposure to 41 metals/metalloids during early pregnancy with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth: Does oxidative stress or DNA methylation play a crucial role? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106966. [PMID: 34735952 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have explored the effects of multiple types of metals/metalloids on spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). A nested case-control study was conducted in Shanxi Province to investigate the associations between maternal exposure to 41 metals/metalloids during early pregnancy and the risk of SPB, and to clarify the underlying mechanisms of oxidative stress and DNA methylation. METHODS A total of 74 controls with full-term delivery and 74 cases with SPB were included in the nested case-control study. The metals/metalloids in serum and the DNA adducts in peripheral blood cell DNA were determined using ICP-MS and UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS, respectively. Unconditional logistic regression models were employed to estimate the associations of the risk of SPB with the metal concentrations, as well as with the levels of oxidative stress/DNA methylation. In addition, linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between the metal/metalloid concentrations and the levels of oxidative stress/DNA methylation. RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders, the concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Nd, Hg, and Pb in maternal serum during early pregnancy were positively associated with the risk of SPB. Compared with the lowest levels (Quartile 1) of Mn, Fe, Cu, Nd, Hg, and Pb, the odds ratios of SPB increased to 5.21 (95% CI: 1.63, 16.68), 3.47 (95% CI: 1.07, 11.21), 16.23 (95% CI: 3.86, 68.18), 10.54 (95% CI: 2.79, 39.86), 5.88 (95% CI: 1.72, 20.11), and 4.09 (95% CI: 1.31, 12.77) in the highest levels (Quartile 4), respectively. A significant increase in 8-OHdG was associated with the increased exposure to Fe, Pr, Eu, Er, and Lu. The levels of 5-MdC, 5-HmdC, and N6-MdA-the indicators of DNA methylation-were associated with exposure to multiple metals/metalloids. However, no significant associations were observed between the levels of oxidative stress or DNA methylation and the risk of SPB. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to multiple types of metals/metalloids during early pregnancy is positively associated with the risk of SPB. Oxidative stress and DNA methylation are significantly associated with exposure to multiple metals/metalloids. Systemic oxidative stress and DNA methylation have not been proven to be the mediating mechanisms of metals increasing the risk of SPB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiwei Xu
- SKL-ESPC, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xin Meng
- SKL-ESPC, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yiming Pang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hang An
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Le Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Rongwei Ye
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Aiguo Ren
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhiwen Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Jicheng Gong
- SKL-ESPC, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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9
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WNT3 hypomethylation counteracts low activity of the Wnt signaling pathway in the placenta of preeclampsia. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6995-7008. [PMID: 34608506 PMCID: PMC8558176 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03941-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Many studies have shown that epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in preeclampsia. Moreover, our previous study indicated that the differentially methylated genes in preeclampsia were enriched in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study aimed to identify differentially methylated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway genes in the preeclamptic placenta and to study the roles of these genes in trophoblast cells in vitro. Using an Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation 850 K BeadChip, we found that the Wnt signaling pathway was globally hypermethylated in the preeclamptic group compared with the term birth group, but hypomethylated in the preeclamptic group compared with the preterm birth group. Among all Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway factors, WNT3 was the most significantly differentially expressed gene and was hypomethylated in the preeclamptic group compared to the nonhypertensive groups, namely, the preterm birth group and term birth group. This result was confirmed by pyrosequencing. Through quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis, the WNT3 gene was found to be highly expressed in preeclamptic placental tissues, in contrast to other WNT factors, which were previously reported to be expressed at low levels in placental tissues. Additionally, in the HTR8/SVneo cell line, knockdown of WNT3 suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, consistent with the findings for other WNT factors. These results prompted us to speculate that the WNT3 gene counteracts the low activation state of the Wnt signaling pathway in the preeclamptic placenta through methylation modification.
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10
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Almomani SN, Alsaleh AA, Weeks RJ, Chatterjee A, Day RC, Honda I, Homma H, Fukuzawa R, Slatter TL, Hung NA, Devenish C, Morison IM, Macaulay EC. Identification and validation of DNA methylation changes in pre-eclampsia. Placenta 2021; 110:16-23. [PMID: 34098319 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a dangerous placental condition that can lead to premature labour, seizures and death of mother and infant. Several studies have identified altered placental DNA methylation in PE; however, there is widespread inconsistency between studies and most findings have not been replicated. This study aimed to identify and validate consistent differences in methylation across multiple PE cohorts. METHODS Seven publicly available 450K methylation array datasets were analysed to identify consistent differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in PE. DMPs were identified based on methylation difference (≥10%) and significance (p-value ≤ 1 × 10-7). Targeted deep bisulfite sequencing was then performed to validate a subset of DMPs in an additional independent PE cohort. RESULTS Stringent analysis of the seven 450K datasets identified 25 DMPs (associated with 11 genes) in only one dataset. Using more relaxed criteria confirmed 19 of the stringent 25 DMPs in at least four of the remaining six datasets. Targeted deep bisulfite sequencing of eight DMPs (associated with three genes; CMIP, ST3GAL1 and DAPK3) in an independent PE cohort validated two DMPs in the CMIP gene. Seven additional CpG sites in CMIP were found to be significantly differentially methylated in PE. DISCUSSION The identification and validation of significant differential methylation in CMIP suggests that the altered DNA methylation of this gene may be associated with the pathogenesis of PE, and may have the potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers for this dangerous condition of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan N Almomani
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Level 2, 3A Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Abdulmonem A Alsaleh
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Robert J Weeks
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Aniruddha Chatterjee
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Level 2, 3A Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Robert C Day
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Izumi Honda
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center, 2-8-29 Musashidai, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8524, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Homma
- Department of Neonatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, 2-8-29 Musashidai, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8561, Japan
| | - Ryuji Fukuzawa
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Department of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine, Narita, Japan
| | - Tania L Slatter
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Noelyn A Hung
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Celia Devenish
- Women's and Children's Health, Otago Medical School Dunedin Campus, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ian M Morison
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Erin C Macaulay
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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11
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Barberet J, Binquet C, Guilleman M, Doukani A, Choux C, Bruno C, Bourredjem A, Chapusot C, Bourc'his D, Duffourd Y, Fauque P. Do assisted reproductive technologies and in vitro embryo culture influence the epigenetic control of imprinted genes and transposable elements in children? Hum Reprod 2021; 36:479-492. [PMID: 33319250 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and in vitro embryo culture influence the epigenetic control of imprinted genes (IGs) and transposable elements (TEs) in children? SUMMARY ANSWER Significant differences in the DNA methylation of IGs or transposon families were reported between ART and naturally conceived children, but there was no difference between culture media. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is concern that ART may play a role in increasing the incidence of adverse health outcomes in children, probably through epigenetic mechanisms. It is crucial to assess epigenetic control, especially following non-optimal in vitro culture conditions and to compare epigenetic analyses from ART-conceived and naturally conceived children. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This follow-up study was based on an earlier randomized study comparing in vitro fertilization outcomes following the use of two distinct culture media. We compared the epigenetic profiles of children from the initial randomized study according to the mode of conception [i.e. ART singletons compared with those of a cohort of naturally conceived singleton children (CTL)], the type of embryo culture medium used [global medium (LifeGlobal) and single step medium (Irvine Scientific)] and the mode of in vitro fertilization (i.e. IVF versus ICSI). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A total of 57 buccal smears were collected from 7- to 8-year-old children. The DNA methylation profiles of four differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of IGs (H19/IGF2: IG-DMR, KCNQ1OT1: TSS-DMR, SNURF: TSS-DMR, and PEG3: TSS-DMR) and two TEs (AluYa5 and LINE-1) were first assessed by pyrosequencing. We further explored IGs and TEs' methylation changes through methylation array (Human MethylationEPIC BeadChip referred as EPIC array, Illumina). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Changes in the IGs' DNA methylation levels were found in ART children compared to controls. DNA methylation levels of H19/IGF2 DMR were significantly lower in ART children than in CTL children [52% versus 58%, P = 0.003, false discovery rate (FDR) P = 0.018] while a significantly higher methylation rate was observed for the PEG3 DMR (51% versus 48%, P = 0.007, FDR P = 0.021). However, no differences were found between the culture media. After observing these targeted modifications, analyses were performed at wider scale. Again, no differences were detected according to the culture media, but imprinted-related DMRs overlapping promoter region near the genes major for the development (MEG3, BLCAP, and DLX5) were detected between the ART and CTL children. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample size could seem relatively small, but the high consistency of our results was ensured by the homogeneity of the cohort from the initial randomized study, the standardized laboratory techniques and the robust statistical analyses accounting for multiple testing. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Although this study did not report DNA methylation differences depending on the culture medium, it sheds light on epigenetic changes that could be observed in some children conceived by ART as compared to CTL children. The clinical relevance of such differences remains largely unknown, and it is still unclear whether such changes are due to some specific ART procedures and/or to parental infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by funding from the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche ('CARE'-ANR JCJC 2017). The authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Barberet
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France.,CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, Dijon, France
| | - C Binquet
- CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, module Epidémiologie Clinique/essais cliniques (CIC-EC), Dijon, France.,INSERM, CIC1432, module épidémiologie clinique, Dijon, France
| | - M Guilleman
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France.,CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, Dijon, France
| | - A Doukani
- Faculté de Médecine Sorbonne Université, Site Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - C Choux
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France.,CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Dijon, France
| | - C Bruno
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France.,CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, Dijon, France
| | - A Bourredjem
- CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, module Epidémiologie Clinique/essais cliniques (CIC-EC), Dijon, France.,INSERM, CIC1432, module épidémiologie clinique, Dijon, France
| | - C Chapusot
- CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Plateforme de génétique des Cancers de bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - D Bourc'his
- Institut Curie, PSL University, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Y Duffourd
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France
| | - P Fauque
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Développement (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, Dijon, France.,CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, Dijon, France
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12
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The Enigmatic Emerging Role of the C-Maf Inducing Protein in Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11040666. [PMID: 33917766 PMCID: PMC8068179 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11040666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The C-Maf-Inducing protein (CMIP) was first described as overexpressed in T cell subpopulations of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) patients. Later, it was found concomitantly upregulated in podocytes. CMIP expression has also been reported in several types of cancer, including blood malignancies and solid tumors, in many cases accompanied by nephrotic syndrome. In addition to these observations, the duality of CMIP overexpression in the kidney and INS lesions, has been extensively reported as one of the adverse effects of anticancer therapy based on anti-receptor tyrosine kinase drugs. As a consequence, a growing body of evidence points at CMIP as playing a role in cancer. This includes its reciprocal regulatory ties with NF-κB and WT1, and the more recent reports showing an involvement in regulatory circuits in cancer cells. The ensemble of the current information justifies to propose CMIP as an important piece of the puzzle of biological systems involved in cancer and other diseases and its potential as a target.
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13
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Matoba N, Mestan KK, Collins JW. Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta. Clin Ther 2021; 43:287-296. [PMID: 33483135 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The racial disparity associated with preterm birth is a public health concern in the United States. The placenta is the principal metabolic, respiratory, and endocrine organ of the fetus and a key route by which environmental exposures are transmitted from mother to offspring. Available at every delivery, it may serve as a marker of differences in prenatal exposures that manifest differently by race. Recently, we described differences in placental pathology between African-American and White preterm births: the prevalence of chronic inflammation was higher among African-American women's placentas compared with those of White women. Similarly, racial differences have been shown in placental malperfusion and placental weight. Social determinants such as poverty and stress from discrimination have been implicated in racial disparities in preterm birth. To date, however, the underlying biological mechanisms, whether through inflammatory, oxidative stress, or other pathways involving epigenetic programming, remain largely unknown. The placenta, complemented by maternal and umbilical cord blood biomarkers, may provide important information on the perinatal environment that explains the origins of racial disparities in preterm birth rates and subsequent health outcomes. This article reviews existing literature and current research gaps. Opportunities are discussed for future placental research that may reveal novel mechanisms leading to the development of new approaches in the prevention and management of preterm birth and its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Matoba
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Karen K Mestan
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - James W Collins
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Chicago, IL, USA
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14
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Cruz JDO, Conceição IMCA, Tosatti JAG, Gomes KB, Luizon MR. Global DNA methylation in placental tissues from pregnant with preeclampsia: A systematic review and pathway analysis. Placenta 2020; 101:97-107. [PMID: 32942147 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is the major cause of fetal and maternal mortality and can be classified according to gestational age of onset into early-onset (EOPE, <34 weeks of gestation) and late- (LOPE, ≥34 weeks of gestation). DNA methylation (DNAm) may help to understand the abnormal placentation in PE. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to assess the role of global DNAm on pathophysiology of PE, focused on fetal and maternal tissues of placenta from pregnant with PE, including EOPE and LOPE. We searched the databases EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Lilacs, Scielo and Google Scholar, and followed the MOOSE guidelines. Moreover, we performed pathway analysis with the overlapping genes from the included studies. Twelve out of 24 included studies in the qualitative analysis considered the classification into EOPE and LOPE. We did not found heterogeneity in the criteria used for diagnosis of PE, and a few studies evaluated whether confounding factors would influence placental DNAm. Fourteen out of 24 included studies showed hypomethylation in placental tissue from pregnant with PE compared to controls. The differences in DNAm are specific to genes or differentially methylated regions, and more evident in EOPE and preterm PE compared to controls, rather than LOPE and term PE. The overlapping genes from included studies revealed pathways relevant to pathophysiology of PE. Our findings highlighted the heterogeneous results of the included studies, mainly focused on North America and China. Replication studies in different populations should use the same placental tissues, techniques to assess DNAm and pipelines for bioinformatic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana de O Cruz
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Izabela M C A Conceição
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jéssica A G Tosatti
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyzes, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Karina B Gomes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyzes, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marcelo R Luizon
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
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