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Louwen F, Kreis NN, Ritter A, Yuan J. Maternal obesity and placental function: impaired maternal-fetal axis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:2279-2288. [PMID: 38494514 PMCID: PMC11147848 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07462-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] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of maternal obesity rapidly increases, which represents a major public health concern worldwide. Maternal obesity is characteristic by metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation. It is associated with health problems in both mother and offspring. Increasing evidence indicates that the placenta is an axis connecting maternal obesity with poor outcomes in the offspring. In this brief review, we have summarized the current data regarding deregulated placental function in maternal obesity. The data show that maternal obesity induces numerous placental defects, including lipid and glucose metabolism, stress response, inflammation, immune regulation and epigenetics. These placental defects affect each other and result in a stressful intrauterine environment, which transduces and mediates the adverse effects of maternal obesity to the fetus. Further investigations are required to explore the exact molecular alterations in the placenta in maternal obesity, which may pave the way to develop specific interventions for preventing epigenetic and metabolic programming in the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Louwen
- Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina-Naomi Kreis
- Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Ritter
- Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Juping Yuan
- Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
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2
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Stoccoro A, Nicolì V, Coppedè F, Grossi E, Fedrizzi G, Menotta S, Lorenzoni F, Caretto M, Carmignani A, Pistolesi S, Burgio E, Fanos V, Migliore L. Prenatal Environmental Stressors and DNA Methylation Levels in Placenta and Peripheral Tissues of Mothers and Neonates Evaluated by Applying Artificial Neural Networks. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040836. [PMID: 37107594 PMCID: PMC10138241 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to environmental stressors during pregnancy plays an important role in influencing subsequent susceptibility to certain chronic diseases through the modulation of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation. Our aim was to explore the connections between environmental exposures during gestation with DNA methylation of placental cells, maternal and neonatal buccal cells by applying artificial neural networks (ANNs). A total of 28 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. Data on gestational exposure to adverse environmental factors and on mother health status were collected through the administration of a questionnaire. DNA methylation analyses at both gene-specific and global level were analyzed in placentas, maternal and neonatal buccal cells. In the placenta, the concentrations of various metals and dioxins were also analyzed. Analysis of ANNs revealed that suboptimal birth weight is associated with placental H19 methylation, maternal stress during pregnancy with methylation levels of NR3C1 and BDNF in placentas and mother's buccal DNA, respectively, and exposure to air pollutants with maternal MGMT methylation. Associations were also observed between placental concentrations of lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury with methylation levels of OXTR in placentas, HSD11B2 in maternal buccal cells and placentas, MECP2 in neonatal buccal cells, and MTHFR in maternal buccal cells. Furthermore, dioxin concentrations were associated with placental RELN, neonatal HSD11B2 and maternal H19 gene methylation levels. Current results suggest that exposure of pregnant women to environmental stressors during pregnancy could induce aberrant methylation levels in genes linked to several pathways important for embryogenesis in both the placenta, potentially affecting foetal development, and in the peripheral tissues of mothers and infants, potentially providing peripheral biomarkers of environmental exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vanessa Nicolì
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Enzo Grossi
- Autism Research Unit, Villa Santa Maria Foundation, 22038 Tavernerio, Italy
| | - Giorgio Fedrizzi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Chemical Department, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Simonetta Menotta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Chemical Department, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Lorenzoni
- Division of Neonatology and NICU, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Caretto
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit 1, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Arianna Carmignani
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit 2, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabina Pistolesi
- First Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ernesto Burgio
- European Cancer and Environment Research Institute (ECERI), 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vassilios Fanos
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, AOU Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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3
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Marley AR, Ryder JR, Turcotte LM, Spector LG. Maternal obesity and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk in offspring: A summary of trends, epidemiological evidence, and possible biological mechanisms. Leuk Res 2022; 121:106924. [PMID: 35939888 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a heterogenous malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoid progenitors and generally initiated in utero, is the most common pediatric cancer. Although incidence of ALL has been steadily increasing in recent decades, no clear reason for this trend has been identified. Rising concurrently with ALL incidence, increasing maternal obesity rates may be partially contributing to increasing ALL prevelance. Epidemiological studies, including a recent meta-analysis, have found an association between maternal obesity and leukemogenesis in offspring, although mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to propose possible mechanisms connecting maternal obesity to ALL risk in offspring, including changes to fetal/neonatal epigenetics, altered insulin-like growth factor profiles and insulin resistance, modified adipokine production and secretion, changes to immune cell populations, and impacts on birthweight and childhood obesity/adiposity. We describe how each proposed mechanism is biologically plausible due to their connection with maternal obesity, presence in neonatal and/or fetal tissue, observation in pediatric ALL patients at diagnosis, and association with leukemogenesis, A description of ALL and maternal obesity trends, a summary of epidemiological evidence, a discussion of the pathway from intrauterine environment to subsequent malignancy, and propositions for future directions are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Marley
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Justin R Ryder
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Ave S AO-102, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Lucie M Turcotte
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 484, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 425 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Logan G Spector
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE MMC 715, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 425 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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4
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Zong X, Wang H, Yang L, Guo Y, Zhao M, Magnussen CG, Xi B. Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index Categories and Infant Birth Outcomes: A Population-Based Study of 9 Million Mother–Infant Pairs. Front Nutr 2022; 9:789833. [PMID: 35252291 PMCID: PMC8891137 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.789833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Infant adverse birth outcomes have been suggested to contribute to neonatal morbidity and mortality and may cause long-term health consequences. Although evidence suggests maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories associate with some birth outcomes, there is no consensus on these associations. We aimed to examine the associations of maternal prepregnancy BMI categories with a wide range of adverse birth outcomes. Methods Data were from a population-based retrospective cohort study of 9,282,486 eligible mother–infant pairs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2018. Maternal prepregnancy BMI was classified as: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2); normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2); overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2); obesity grade 1 (30–34.9 kg/m2); obesity grade 2 (35.0–39.9 kg/m2); and obesity grade 3 (≥40 kg/m2). A total of six birth outcomes of the newborn included preterm birth, low birthweight, macrosomia, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), and low Apgar score (5-min score <7). Results Maternal prepregnancy overweight and obesity increased the likelihood of infant preterm birth, with odds ratios (ORs) (95% CIs) of 1.04 (1.04–1.05) for overweight, 1.18 (1.17–1.19) for obesity grade 1, 1.31 (1.29–1.32) for obesity grade 2, and 1.47 (1.45–1.48) for obesity grade 3, and also for prepregnancy underweight (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.30–1.34) after adjusting for all potential covariates. Prepregnancy overweight and obesity were associated with higher odds of macrosomia, with ORs (95% CIs) of 1.53 (1.52–1.54) for overweight, 1.92 (1.90–1.93) for obesity grade 1, 2.33 (2.31–2.35) for obesity grade 2, and 2.87 (2.84–2.90) for obesity grade 3. Prepregnancy overweight and obesity was associated with higher odds of LGA, with ORs (95% CIs) of 1.58 (1.57–1.59) for overweight, 2.05 (2.03–2.06) for obesity grade 1, 2.54 (2.52–2.56) for obesity grade 2, and 3.17 (3.14–3.21) for obesity grade 3. Prepregnancy overweight and obesity were also associated with higher odds of low Apgar score, with ORs (95% CIs) of 1.12 (1.11–1.14) for overweight, 1.21 (1.19–1.23) for obesity grade 1, 1.34 (1.31–1.36) for obesity grade 2, and 1.55 (1.51–1.58) for obesity grade 3. Conclusion Our findings suggest maintaining or obtaining a healthy body weight for prepregnancy women could substantially reduce the likelihood of important infant adverse birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin'nan Zong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Growth and Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yajun Guo
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Costan G. Magnussen
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Bo Xi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Xi
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5
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Li C, Cao M, Zhou X. Role of epigenetics in parturition and preterm birth. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:851-873. [PMID: 34939297 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth occurs worldwide and is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and economic cost. Although several risk factors associated with parturition and preterm birth have been identified, mechanisms underlying this syndrome remain unclear, thereby limiting the implementation of interventions for prevention and management. Known triggers of preterm birth include conditions related to inflammatory and immunological pathways, as well as genetics and maternal history. Importantly, epigenetics, which is the study of heritable phenotypic changes that occur without alterations in the DNA sequence, may play a role in linking social and environmental risk factors for preterm birth. Epigenetic approaches to the study of preterm birth, including analyses of the effects of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone modification, have contributed to an improved understanding of the molecular bases of both term and preterm birth. Additionally, epigenetic modifications have been linked to factors already associated with preterm birth, including obesity and smoking. The prevention and management of preterm birth remains a challenge worldwide. Although epigenetic analysis provides valuable insights into the causes and risk factors associated with this syndrome, further studies are necessary to determine whether epigenetic approaches can be used routinely for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjin Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Maosheng Cao
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
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6
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Ghildayal N, Fore R, Lutz SM, Cardenas A, Perron P, Bouchard L, Hivert MF. Early-pregnancy maternal body mass index is associated with common DNA methylation markers in cord blood and placenta: a paired-tissue epigenome-wide association study. Epigenetics 2021; 17:808-818. [PMID: 34384032 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1959975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Women entering pregnancy with elevated body mass index (BMI) face greater risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy, delivery, and for their offspring later in life, potentially via epigenetics. If epigenetic programming occurs early during in utero development, the differential marks should be detectable in multiple tissues despite the known unique epigenetic profile in each.We used early-pregnancy BMI as reflection of maternal metabolic milieu exposure in peri-conception and early-pregnancy period. We analysed DNA methylation in paired cord blood and placenta samples among 437 newborns from Gen3G, a pre-birth prospective cohort of primarily European descent. We measured DNA methylation in both tissues across the genome in >720,000 CpG sites using the Illumina MethylationEPIC array. At each site, we used linear mixed models (LMMs) with an unstructured variance-covariance matrix to test for an association between maternal early-pregnancy BMI and DNA methylation in both tissues (modelled as M-values). We adjusted for tissue-specific covariates, offspring sex, gestational age at delivery, and maternal smoking and age.Women had a mean (SD) BMI of 25.4 (5.7) kg/m2 measured at first trimester visit (mean=9.9 weeks). Early-pregnancy BMI was associated with differential DNA methylation levels in paired-tissue analyses at two sites: cg10593758 (β=0.0126, SE=0.0025; P=4.07e-7), annotated to CRHBP, and cg0762168 (β=-0.0094, SE=0.0018; P=2.78e-7), annotated to CCDC97.Application of LMMs in DNA methylation data from distinct fetal-origin tissues allowed us to identify CpG sites at which early-pregnancy BMI may have an epigenetic 'programming' effect on overall fetus development. One site (CRHBP) may play a role in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Ghildayal
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Ruby Fore
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Sharon M Lutz
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Patrice Perron
- Department of Medicine, Faculté De Médecine Et Des Sciences De La Santé, Université De Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,Centre De Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Luigi Bouchard
- Centre De Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculté De Médecine Et Des Sciences De La Santé, University De Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,Department of Medical Biology, CIUSSS Du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Hôpital De Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America.,Department of Medicine, Faculté De Médecine Et Des Sciences De La Santé, Université De Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
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7
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Lima RS, Mattos RT, Medeiros NI, Kattah FM, Nascimento JRS, Menezes CA, Rios-Santos F, Dutra WO, Gomes JAS, Moreira PR. CXCL8 expression and methylation are correlated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in childhood obesity. Cytokine 2021; 143:155538. [PMID: 33926776 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Childhood obesity is a global and increasing health issue. Inflammation and dysregulated adipose tissue secretion are common findings in obesity and have been related to poor metabolic function. Given that DNA methylation impacts gene expression and is responsive to environmental changes, we aimed, in addition to characterize the patients in anthropometric and biochemical terms, to determine the expression of cytokines and adipokines, assess the methylation on regulatory regions of the genes that code for these molecules, and investigate the association of the expression and gene methylation with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in childhood obesity. Obese children present dyslipidemia, dysregulated serum levels of adipokines and their ratios, altered leukocytic expression of cytokines, and higher methylation at the CXCL8 promoter as compared to the control group. However, no significant results were observed in the fasting plasma glucose levels or the methylation of TGFB1, LEP, and the enhancer region of ADIPOQ. We also found negative correlations of CXCL8 expression with anthropometric and biochemical parameters, and positive correlation of CXCL8 promoter methylation and the serum levels of hepatic enzymes. Our results indicate that changes in metabolic parameters observed in childhood obesity are associated with the expression of adipokines and cytokines, and the methylation status at the CXCL8 promoter. CXCL8 may be a key factor for these alterations, as it correlates with many of the parameters assessed in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael S Lima
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael T Mattos
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nayara I Medeiros
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fabiana M Kattah
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Julya R S Nascimento
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Menezes
- Department of Genetics, State University of Santa Cruz, Bahia, Brazil; Service of Preventive Medicine - Unimed, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Fabricio Rios-Santos
- Department of Basic and Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Walderez O Dutra
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical Diseases - INCT-DT, Brazil
| | - Juliana A S Gomes
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula R Moreira
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Bagias C, Sukumar N, Weldeselassie Y, Oyebode O, Saravanan P. Cord Blood Adipocytokines and Body Composition in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041897. [PMID: 33669328 PMCID: PMC7920289 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic. Early identification of high-risk groups will allow for the development of prevention strategies. Cord blood adipocytokines have been previously examined as biomarkers predicting future obesity. We conducted a systematic review looking at the association between cord blood leptin and adiponectin with adiposity up to 5 years of age. A literature review was performed between January 1994 and August 2020 using two bibliographic databases (Medline/Pubmed and EMBASE) and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017069024). Studies using skinfold thickness and direct methods of assessing body composition in full term neonates were considered. Partial correlation and multiple regression models were used to present the results. Meta-analysis was performed, were possible, using a random effects model. Cochran’s Q test was used to assess heterogeneity and I2 statistics to calculate the percentage of variation across studies. The potential for publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Data from 22 studies were retrieved and reviewed by two independent reviewers. Cord blood leptin was positively associated with adiposity at birth (r = 0.487; 95% CI: 0.444, 0.531) but was inversely related to adiposity up to 3 years of age. The association was not sustained at 5 years. There was a weak positive association between adiponectin in cord blood and adiposity at birth (r = 0.201; 95% CI: 0.125, 0.277). No correlation was found between cord blood adiponectin in young children, but data were limited. This review supports that cord blood leptin and adiponectin are associated with adiposity at birth. The results of this study provide insight into the role of adipocytokines at birth on future metabolic health and their potential use as risk stratification tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Bagias
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Population Evidence and Technologies, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV7 7HL, UK; (C.B.); (N.S.); (Y.W.); (O.O.)
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nithya Sukumar
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Population Evidence and Technologies, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV7 7HL, UK; (C.B.); (N.S.); (Y.W.); (O.O.)
- Academic Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton CV10 7DJ, UK
| | - Yonas Weldeselassie
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Population Evidence and Technologies, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV7 7HL, UK; (C.B.); (N.S.); (Y.W.); (O.O.)
| | - Oyinlola Oyebode
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Population Evidence and Technologies, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV7 7HL, UK; (C.B.); (N.S.); (Y.W.); (O.O.)
| | - Ponnusamy Saravanan
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Population Evidence and Technologies, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV7 7HL, UK; (C.B.); (N.S.); (Y.W.); (O.O.)
- Academic Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton CV10 7DJ, UK
- Correspondence:
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9
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Epigenetic signatures associated with maternal body mass index or gestational weight gain: a systematic review. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:373-383. [PMID: 32873364 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Maternal body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) impacts both the mother's and the child's health, and epigenetic modifications have been suggested to mediate some of these effects in offspring. This systematic review aimed to summarize the current literature on associations between maternal BMI and GWG and epigenetic marks. We performed systematic searches in PubMed and EMBASE and manual searches of reference lists. We included 49 studies exploring the association between maternal BMI and/or GWG and DNA methylation or miRNA; 7 performed in maternal tissues, 13 in placental tissue and 38 in different offspring tissues. The most consistent findings were reported for the relationship between maternal BMI, in particular pre-pregnant BMI, and expression of miRNA Let-7d in both maternal blood and placental tissue, methylation of the gene HIF3A in umbilical cord blood and umbilical tissue, and with expression in the miR-210 target gene, BDNF in placental tissue and cord blood. Correspondingly, methylation of BDNF was also found in placental tissue and cord blood. The current evidence suggests that maternal BMI is associated with some epigenetic signatures in the mother, the placenta and her offspring, which could indicate that some of the effects proposed by the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease-hypothesis may be mediated by epigenetic marks. In conclusion, there is a need for large, well-designed studies and meta-analyses that can clarify the relationship between BMI, GWG and epigenetic changes.
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10
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Lima RS, Assis Silva Gomes J, Moreira PR. An overview about DNA methylation in childhood obesity: Characteristics of the studies and main findings. J Cell Biochem 2020; 121:3042-3057. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Silva Lima
- Laboratory of Cell‐Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Minas Gerais Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Juliana Assis Silva Gomes
- Laboratory of Cell‐Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Minas Gerais Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Paula Rocha Moreira
- Laboratory of Cell‐Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Minas Gerais Minas Gerais Brazil
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11
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Kuriyan R, Naqvi S, Bhat KG, Ghosh S, Rao S, Preston T, Sachdev HS, Kurpad AV. The Thin But Fat Phenotype is Uncommon at Birth in Indian Babies. J Nutr 2020; 150:826-832. [PMID: 31858112 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indian babies are hypothesized to be born thin but fat. This has not been confirmed with precise measurements at birth. If it is true, it could track into later life and confer risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). OBJECTIVES Primarily, to accurately measure percentage of body fat (%BF) and body cell mass (BCM) in Indian babies with normal birth weight, compare them across different gestational ages and sex, and test the hypothesis of the thin but fat phenotype in Indian babies. Secondarily, to examine the relation between body weight and body fat in Indian babies. METHODS Term newborns (n = 156) weighing ≥2500 g, from middle socioeconomic status mothers were recruited in Bengaluru, India, and their anthropometry, %BF (air displacement plethysmography), and BCM (whole-body potassium counter) were measured. Maternal demography and anthropometry were recorded. The mean %BF and its dispersion were compared with earlier studies. The relation between newborn %BF and body weight was explored by regression analysis. RESULTS Mean birth weight was 3.0 ± 0.3 kg, with mean %BF 9.8 ± 3.5%, which was comparable to pooled estimates of %BF from published studies (9.8%; 95% CI: 9.7, 10.0; P > 0.05). Appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) babies had higher %BF (1.8%) compared to small-for-gestational age (SGA) babies (P < 0.01). Mean %BCM of all babies at birth was 35.4 ± 10.5%; AGA babies had higher %BCM compared to SGA babies (7.0%, P < 0.05). Girls in comparison to boys had significantly higher %BF and lower %BCM. Body weight was positively associated with %BF. CONCLUSION Indian babies with normal birth weight did not demonstrate the thin but fat phenotype. Body weight and fat had positive correlation, such that SGA babies did not show a preservation of their %BF. These findings will have relevance in planning optimal interventions during early childhood to prevent NCDs risk in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Kuriyan
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Saba Naqvi
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Kishor G Bhat
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Santu Ghosh
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
| | - Suman Rao
- Department of Neonatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, India
| | - Thomas Preston
- Stable Isotope Biochemistry Laboratory, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Anura V Kurpad
- Department of Physiology, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
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12
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Stolzenbach F, Valdivia S, Ojeda-Provoste P, Toledo F, Sobrevia L, Kerr B. DNA methylation changes in genes coding for leptin and insulin receptors during metabolic-altered pregnancies. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165465. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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13
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Kadakia R, Zheng Y, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Josefson JL, Hou L. Association of cord blood methylation with neonatal leptin: An epigenome wide association study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226555. [PMID: 31851703 PMCID: PMC6919608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neonatal adiposity is a risk factor for childhood obesity. Investigating contributors to neonatal adiposity is important for understanding early life obesity risk. Epigenetic changes of metabolic genes in cord blood may contribute to excessive neonatal adiposity and subsequent childhood obesity. This study aims to evaluate the association of cord blood DNA methylation patterns with anthropometric measures and cord blood leptin, a biomarker of neonatal adiposity. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on a multiethnic cohort of 114 full term neonates born to mothers without gestational diabetes at a university hospital. Cord blood was assayed for leptin and for epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiles via the Illumina 450K platform. Neonatal body composition was measured by air displacement plethysmography. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze associations between individual CpG sites as well as differentially methylated regions in cord blood DNA with measures of newborn adiposity including anthropometrics (birth weight, fat mass and percent body fat) and cord blood leptin. False discovery rate was estimated to account for multiple comparisons. Results 247 CpG sites as well as 18 differentially methylated gene regions were associated with cord blood leptin but no epigenetic changes were associated with birth weight, fat mass or percent body fat. Genes of interest identified in this study are DNAJA4, TFR2, SMAD3, PLAG1, FGF1, and HNF4A. Conclusion Epigenetic changes in cord blood DNA are associated with cord blood leptin levels, a measure of neonatal adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kadakia
- Division of Endocrinology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Wei Zhang
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jami L. Josefson
- Division of Endocrinology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Lifang Hou
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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14
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Genetic variation, intrauterine growth, and adverse pregnancy conditions predict leptin gene DNA methylation in blood at birth and 12 months of age. Int J Obes (Lond) 2019; 44:45-56. [PMID: 31636377 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0472-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptin regulates satiety and energy homoeostasis, and plays a key role in placentation in pregnancy. Previous studies have demonstrated regulation of leptin gene (LEP) expression and/or methylation in placenta and cord blood in association with early life exposures, but most have been small and have not considered the influence of genetic variation. Here, we investigated the relationship between maternal factors in pregnancy, infant anthropometry and LEP genetic variation with LEP promoter methylation at birth and 12 months of age. METHODS LEP methylation was measured in cord (n = 877) and 12-month (n = 734) blood in the Barwon Infant Study, a population-based pre-birth cohort. Infant adiposity at birth and 12-months was measured as triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. Cross-sectional regression tested associations of methylation with pregnancy and anthropometry measures, while longitudinal regression tested if birth anthropometry predicted 12-month LEP methylation levels. RESULTS Male infants had lower LEP methylation in cord blood (-2.07% average methylation, 95% CI (-2.92, -1.22), p < 0.001). Genetic variation strongly influenced DNA methylation at a single CpG site, which was also negatively associated with birth weight (r = -0.10, p = 0.003). Pre-eclampsia was associated with lower cord blood methylation at another CpG site (-6.06%, 95% CI (-10.70, -1.42), p = 0.01). Gestational diabetes was more modestly associated with methylation at two other CpG units. Adiposity at birth was associated with 12-month LEP methylation, modified by rs41457646 genotype. There was no association of LEP methylation with 12-month anthropometric measures. CONCLUSIONS Infant sex, weight, genetic variation, and exposure to pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, are associated with LEP methylation in cord blood. Infant adiposity at birth predicts 12-month blood LEP methylation in a genotype-dependent manner. These findings are consistent with genetics and anthropometry driving altered LEP epigenetic profile and expression in infancy. Further work is required to confirm this and to determine the long-term impact of altered LEP methylation on health.
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15
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Palou M, Picó C, Palou A. Leptin as a breast milk component for the prevention of obesity. Nutr Rev 2019; 76:875-892. [PMID: 30285146 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin ingested as a component of breast milk is increasingly recognized to play a role in the postnatal programming of a healthy phenotype in adulthood. Besides its primary function in controlling body weight, leptin may be an essential nutrient required during lactation to ensure that the system controlling fat accumulation and body composition is well organized from the early stages of development. This review delves into the following topics: (1) the imprinted protective function of adequate leptin intake during lactation in future metabolic health; (2) the consequences of a lack of leptin intake or of alterations in leptin levels; and (3) the mechanisms described for the effects of leptin on postnatal programming. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of breastfeeding and the need to establish optimal or reference intake values for leptin during lactation to design patterns of personalized nutrition from early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Palou
- Alimentómica SL, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Nutrigenomics and Obesity Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Catalina Picó
- Nutrigenomics and Obesity Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Andreu Palou
- Nutrigenomics and Obesity Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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16
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Sureshchandra S, Marshall NE, Messaoudi I. Impact of pregravid obesity on maternal and fetal immunity: Fertile grounds for reprogramming. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 106:1035-1050. [PMID: 31483523 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.3ri0619-181r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal pregravid obesity results in several adverse health outcomes during pregnancy, including increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placental abruption, and complications at delivery. Additionally, pregravid obesity and in utero exposure to high fat diet have been shown to have detrimental effects on fetal programming, predisposing the offspring to adverse cardiometabolic, endocrine, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. More recently, a deeper appreciation for the modulation of offspring immunity and infectious disease-related outcomes by maternal pregravid obesity has emerged. This review will describe currently available animal models for studying the impact of maternal pregravid obesity on fetal immunity and review the data from clinical and animal model studies. We also examine the burden of pregravid obesity on the maternal-fetal interface and the link between placental and systemic inflammation. Finally, we discuss future studies needed to identify key mechanistic underpinnings that link maternal inflammatory changes and fetal cellular reprogramming events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Nicole E Marshall
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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17
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Wang YH, Xu XX, Sun H, Han Y, Lei ZF, Wang YC, Yan HT, Yang XJ. Cord blood leptin DNA methylation levels are associated with macrosomia during normal pregnancy. Pediatr Res 2019; 86:305-310. [PMID: 31117117 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0435-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated an association between placental leptin (LEP) methylation levels and macrosomia without gestational diabetes mellitus (non-GDM). This study further explored the association between LEP methylation in cord blood and non-GDM macrosomia. METHOD We carried out a case-control study of 61 newborns with macrosomia (birth weight ≥4000 g) and 69 newborns with normal birth weight (2500-3999 g). Methylation in the LEP promoter region was mapped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS Average cord blood LEP methylation levels were lower in macrosomia newborns than in control newborns (P < 0.001). Eleven CpG sites were associated with macrosomia. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that low LEP methylation levels [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.72-4.17], high pre-pregnancy body mass index (AOR = 7.44, 95% CI: 1.99-27.75), long gestational age (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.74-5.79), high cord blood LEP concentration (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.34-3.77), and male newborn gender (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.31-11.69) significantly increased the risk of macrosomia. CONCLUSIONS Lower cord blood LEP methylation levels and certain maternal and fetal factors are associated with non-GDM macrosomia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Huan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Xi Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Hao Sun
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University, 310000, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Zong-Feng Lei
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yao-Cheng Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Tao Yan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Jun Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, 325035, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
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18
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Wróblewski A, Strycharz J, Świderska E, Drewniak K, Drzewoski J, Szemraj J, Kasznicki J, Śliwińska A. Molecular Insight into the Interaction between Epigenetics and Leptin in Metabolic Disorders. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11081872. [PMID: 31408957 PMCID: PMC6723573 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, it is well-known that the deregulation of epigenetic machinery is a common biological event leading to the development and progression of metabolic disorders. Moreover, the expression level and actions of leptin, a vast adipocytokine regulating energy metabolism, appear to be strongly associated with epigenetics. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of leptin as well as the leptin-induced epigenetic modifications in metabolic disorders and associated phenomena. The collected data indicated that the deregulation of leptin expression and secretion that occurs during the course of metabolic diseases is underlain by a variation in the level of promoter methylation, the occurrence of histone modifications, along with miRNA interference. Furthermore, leptin was proven to epigenetically regulate several miRNAs and affect the activity of the histone deacetylases. These epigenetic modifications were observed in obesity, gestational diabetes, metabolic syndrome and concerned various molecular processes like glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, liver fibrosis, obesity-related carcinogenesis, adipogenesis or fetal/early postnatal programming. Moreover, the circulating miRNA profiles were associated with the plasma leptin level in metabolic syndrome, and miRNAs were found to be involved in hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. In summary, the evidence suggests that leptin is both a target and a mediator of epigenetic changes that develop in numerous tissues during metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wróblewski
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Justyna Strycharz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Świderska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Karolina Drewniak
- Student Scientific Society of the Civilization Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Józef Drzewoski
- Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Janusz Szemraj
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Kasznicki
- Department of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Śliwińska
- Department of Nucleic Acid Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland.
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19
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Yan J, Su R, Zhang W, Wei Y, Wang C, Lin L, Feng H, Yang H. Epigenetic alteration of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange Factor 11 (ARHGEF11) in cord blood samples in macrosomia exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:422-431. [PMID: 30999786 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1609929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background: Macrosomia at birth is associated with maternal hyperglycemia and leads to subsequent susceptibility to obesity, abnormal glucose metabolism, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in offspring. Epigenetic reprogramming has been reported to be involved in the development of human diseases caused by suboptimal environmental or nutritional factors. The study was aiming to explore epigenetic mechanism influences on macrosomic infants exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia. We performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in cord blood from macrosomic infants born to women with gestational diabetes in order to identify genes related to fetal growth or early adipose tissue development.Methods: To analyze the epigenetic patterns in umbilical cord blood in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), we collected umbilical cord blood from women with GDM (mean pregestational BMI of 24.4 kg/m2 and mean neonatal birth weight of 4366 g) and normal glucose-tolerant women (mean pregestational BMI of 19.8 kg/m2 and mean neonatal birth weight of 3166 g). Differentially methylated genes in the GDM group were identified using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array.Results: A total of 1251 genes were differentially methylated compared to the controls (p < .01). The methylation microarray data showed that two specific CpG sites (cg12604331 and cg08480098) in the gene body of ARHGEF11 were significantly hypomethylated in the cord blood in macrosomic infants. Altered DNA methylation levels of ARHGEF11 were negatively correlated with glucose levels and neonatal birth weight.Conclusions: Exposure to adverse intrauterine environments can alter fetal development, such as by affecting the nutritional status of the fetus. Such exposure can also result in significant epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, which could serve as a potential marker for nutrition and metabolic conditions at the neonatal stage or even in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Rina Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Wanyi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Yumei Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Huixia Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
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20
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Do EK, Zucker NL, Huang ZY, Schechter JC, Kollins SH, Maguire RL, Murphy SK, Hoyo C, Fuemmeler BF. Associations between imprinted gene differentially methylated regions, appetitive traits and body mass index in children. Pediatr Obes 2019; 14:e12454. [PMID: 30231188 PMCID: PMC6437681 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge regarding genetic influences on eating behaviours is expanding; yet less is known regarding contributions of epigenetic variation to appetitive traits and body mass index (BMI) in children. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between methylation at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of imprinted genes (insulin-like growth factor 2/H19 and Delta-like, Drosophila, homolog 1/maternally expressed gene 3) using DNA extracted from umbilical cord blood leucocytes, two genetically influenced appetitive traits (food responsiveness and satiety responsiveness) and BMI. METHODS Data were obtained from participants (N = 317; mean age = 3.6 years; SD = 1.8 years) from the Newborn Epigenetic STudy. Conditional process models were implemented to investigate the associations between DMRs of imprinted genes and BMI, and test whether this association was mediated by appetitive traits and birthweight and moderated by sex. RESULTS Appetitive traits and birthweight did not mediate the relationship between methylation at DMRs. Increased insulin-like growth factor 2 DMR methylation was associated with higher satiety responsiveness. Higher satiety responsiveness was associated with lower BMI. Associations between methylation at DMRs, appetitive traits and BMI differed by sex. CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies to demonstrate associations between epigenetic variation established prior to birth with appetitive traits and BMI in children, providing support for the need to uncover genetic and epigenetic mechanisms for appetitive traits predisposing some individuals to obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. K. Do
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - N. L. Zucker
- Duke Center for Eating Disorders and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Z. Y. Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, US
| | - J. C. Schechter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - S. H. Kollins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - R. L. Maguire
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - S. K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, US
| | - C. Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - B. F. Fuemmeler
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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21
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Tian FY, Rifas-Shiman SL, Cardenas A, Baccarelli AA, DeMeo DL, Litonjua AA, Rich-Edwards JW, Gillman MW, Oken E, Hivert MF. Maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone is associated with LEP DNA methylation at birth and in childhood: an epigenome-wide study in Project Viva. Int J Obes (Lond) 2018; 43:1244-1255. [PMID: 30464231 PMCID: PMC6529291 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-018-0249-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a central role in regulating the secretion of cortisol which controls a wide range of biological processes. Fetuses overexposed to cortisol have increased risks of disease in later life. DNA methylation may be the underlying association between prenatal cortisol exposure and health effects. We investigated associations between maternal CRH levels and epigenome-wide DNA methylation of cord blood in offsprings and evaluated whether these associations persisted into mid-childhood. Methods: We investigated mother-child pairs enrolled in the prospective Project Viva pre-birth cohort. We measured DNA methylation in 257 umbilical cord blood samples using the HumanMethylation450 Bead Chip. We tested associations of maternal CRH concentration with cord blood cells DNA methylation, adjusting the model for maternal age at enrollment, education, maternal race/ethnicity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, parity, gestational age at delivery, child sex, and cell-type composition in cord blood. We further examined the persistence of associations between maternal CRH levels and DNA methylation in children’s blood cells collected at mid-childhood (N = 239, age: 6.7–10.3 years) additionally adjusting for the children’s age at blood drawn. Results: Maternal CRH levels are associated with DNA methylation variability in cord blood cells at 96 individual CpG sites (False Discovery Rate < 0.05). Among the 96 CpG sites, we identified 3 CpGs located near the LEP gene. Regional analyses confirmed the association between maternal CRH and DNA methylation near LEP. Moreover, higher maternal CRH levels were associated with higher blood-cell DNA methylation of the promoter region of LEP in mid-childhood (P < 0.05, β = 0.64, SE = 0.30). Conclusion: In our cohort, maternal CRH was associated with DNA methylation levels in newborns at multiple loci, notably in the LEP gene promoter. The association between maternal CRH and LEP DNA methylation levels persisted into mid-childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Ying Tian
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dawn L DeMeo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Augusto A Litonjua
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janet W Rich-Edwards
- Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew W Gillman
- Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA. .,Diabetes Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. .,Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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22
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Huang JV, Cardenas A, Colicino E, Schooling CM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Agha G, Zheng Y, Hou L, Just AC, Litonjua AA, DeMeo DL, Lin X, Oken E, Hivert MF, Baccarelli AA. DNA methylation in blood as a mediator of the association of mid-childhood body mass index with cardio-metabolic risk score in early adolescence. Epigenetics 2018; 13:1072-1087. [PMID: 30412002 PMCID: PMC6342073 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2018.1543503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is associated with higher cardio-metabolic risk even in childhood and adolescence; whether this association is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms remains unclear. We examined the extent to which mid-childhood body mass index (BMI) z-score (median age 7.7 years) was associated with cardio-metabolic risk score in early adolescence (median age 12.9 years) via mid-childhood DNA methylation among 265 children in the Project Viva. We measured DNA methylation in leukocytes using the Infinium Human Methylation450K BeadChip. We assessed mediation CpG-by-CpG using epigenome-wide association analyses, high-dimensional mediation analysis, and natural effect models. We observed mediation by mid-childhood DNA methylation at 6 CpGs for the association between mid-childhood BMI z-score and cardio-metabolic risk score in early adolescence in the high-dimensional mediation analysis (accounting for 10% of the total effect) and in the natural effect model (β = 0.04, P = 3.2e-2, accounting for 13% of the total effect). The natural direct effect of BMI z-score on cardio-metabolic risk score was still evident (β = 0.27, P = 1.1e-25). We also observed mediation by mid-childhood DNA methylation at 5 CpGs that was in the opposite direction from the total effect (natural effect model: β = -0.04, P = 2.0e-2). Mediation in different directions implies a complex role of DNA methylation in the association between BMI and cardio-metabolic risk and needs further investigation. Future studies with larger sample size and greater variability in cardio-metabolic risk will further help elucidate the role of DNA methylation for cardio-metabolic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian V. Huang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, NY, NY, USA
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine & Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - C. Mary Schooling
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Golareh Agha
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, NY, NY, USA
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Allan C. Just
- Department of Environmental Medicine & Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Augusto A. Litonjua
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Dawn L. DeMeo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xihong Lin
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, NY, NY, USA
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23
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Epigenome-wide methylation differences in a group of lean and obese women - A HUNT Study. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16330. [PMID: 30397228 PMCID: PMC6218540 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of epigenetically regulated biomarkers linked to obesity development is still scarce. Improving molecular understanding of the involved factors and pathways would improve obesity phenotype characterization and reveal potentially relevant targets for obesity intervention. The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used in a leucocyte epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to quantify differential DNA methylation in 60 lean compared with 60 obese young women. Replication was done in monozygotic twins discordant for obesity. At adolescence and adulthood, the two weight groups differed significantly in obesity-related traits and metabolic risk factors. Differential hypomethylation was overrepresented in obese compared to lean women. In the adjusted model, the EWAS revealed 10 differentially methylated CpG sites linked to 8 gene loci – COX6A1P2/FGD2, SBNO2, TEX41, RPS6KA2, IGHE/IGHG1/IGHD, DMAP1, SOCS3, and SETBP1– and an enhancer locus at chromosome 2 (2p25.1). The sites linked to TEX41, IGHE/IGHG1/IGHD, DMAP1, and SETBP1 were novel findings, while COX6A1P/FGD2, SBNO2, RPS6KA2, and SOCS3 had been identified previously with concordant direction of effects. RPS6KA2, DMAP1, and SETBP1 were replicated in the BMI-discordant monozygotic twin cohort using the FDR of 5%.
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Schneider CR, Catalano PM, Biggio JR, Gower BA, Chandler-Laney PC. Associations of neonatal adiponectin and leptin with growth and body composition in African American infants. Pediatr Obes 2018; 13:485-491. [PMID: 29573242 PMCID: PMC6457440 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cord blood adiponectin and leptin concentrations are associated with birth weight and adiposity. Birth size and rate of infant weight gain are associated with future obesity risk. However, it is unclear whether biomarkers reflecting the intrauterine environment are predictive of infant prospective body composition change. OBJECTIVES To examine whether cord blood adiponectin and leptin are predictive of neonatal adiposity and fat mass (FM) accrual to 3 months of age. METHODS Participants (n = 36) were healthy African American infants. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured in umbilical cord blood. At 2 weeks and 3 months, infant body composition was assessed via air displacement plethysmography. Weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) were calculated using World Health Organization standards. Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations of cord blood adiponectin and leptin with birth WLZ; WLZ, FM and fat-free mass at 2 weeks, and the conditional change in these variables from 2 weeks to 3 months (body composition at 3 months adjusted for body composition at 2 weeks). RESULTS Adiponectin was positively associated with FM at 2 weeks (r = 0.45, P < 0.01), but inversely associated with conditional FM change from 2 weeks to 3 months of age (r = -0.38, P < 0.05). Leptin was not significantly associated with infant body composition. CONCLUSIONS Adiponectin may be a marker for FM accrual in African American infants, a relatively understudied population with a high long-term obesity risk. Mechanistic studies are needed to determine whether adiponectin directly influences infant growth or is simply a maker reflective of other ongoing biological changes after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille R Schneider
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Patrick M Catalano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health/MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph R Biggio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women’s Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Barbara A Gower
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Paula C Chandler-Laney
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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25
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Cheng Q, Zhao B, Huang Z, Su Y, Chen B, Yang S, Peng X, Ma Q, Yu X, Zhao B, Ke X. Epigenome-wide study for the offspring exposed to maternal HBV infection during pregnancy, a pilot study. Gene 2018. [PMID: 29526602 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transmitted to infants, and is related to infants' later disease risk. Epigenetic change (such as DNA methylation) may be mechanism underlying the relationship. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether prenatal HBV infection could alter DNA methylation status in newborns. METHOD We selected 12 neonates with intrauterine HBV infection whose mothers were HBsAg-positive during pregnancy, relative to 12 HBV-free neonates with HBsAg-negative mothers. The pattern of genome-wide DNA methylation in the umbilical cord blood was investigated by Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450K BeadChip. RESULT The average level of global methylation in infected neonates exposed to maternal HBV infection was not significantly different from controls. However, after adjusting for multiple comparisons, we found differential significance in the cases group compared to the controls for 663 CpG sites, associated with 534 genes. Among these sites, 53.85% (357/663) had decreased methylation (ΔM < 0) and 46.15% (306/663) had increased methylation (ΔM > 0). The average percentage change (Δβ) in methylation ranged from -46% to 36%. Validated by pyrosequencing, we identified 4 significantly differentially methylated CpG sites in the KLHL35 gene and additional CpGs for the CPT1B gene. These genes play a role in the development of hepatocellular and colorectal carcinoma and fatty acid oxidation, suggesting the candidature of these genes in HBV related disease. CONCLUSION Prenatal HBV exposure, even without malformation or preterm birth, may alter the epigenome profile in newborns. We identified a set of genes with differentially methylated CpG sites presented in the cord blood of HBV-infected newborns with HBsAg-positive mothers, demonstrating that DNA methylation status at birth can be used as a biomarker of prenatal exposure. These DNA methylation differences suggest a possible role for epigenetic processes in neonatal development in response to prenatal HBV exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenxiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Yanhua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Biqin Chen
- Women and Children's medical center, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Songjing Yang
- Women and Children's medical center, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xueqi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Qilin Ma
- Neurology Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoshan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Benhua Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China.
| | - Xiayi Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Fujian, China.
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