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Mouat JS, Krigbaum NY, Hakam S, Thrall E, Mellis J, Yasui DH, Cirillo PM, Ludena Y, Schmidt RJ, La Merrill MA, Hertz-Picciotto I, Cohn BA, LaSalle JM. Females with autism spectrum disorders show stronger DNA methylation signatures than males in perinatal tissues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603098. [PMID: 39026708 PMCID: PMC11257592 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a group of neurodevelopmental conditions currently diagnosed by behavioral assessment in childhood, with reported underdiagnosis in females. Though diagnosis in early life is linked to improved outcomes, we currently lack objective screening tools for newborns. To address this gap, we sought to identify a sex-specific DNA methylation signature for ASD using perinatal tissues that reflect dysregulation in the brain. DNA methylation was assayed from ASD and typically developing (TD) newborn blood, umbilical cord blood, placenta, and post-mortem cortex samples using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) in a total of 511 samples. We found that methylation levels of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) differentiated samples by ASD diagnosis in females more than males across the perinatal tissues. We tested three theories for ASD sex differences in newborn blood, finding epigenetic support for an X chromosome-related female protective effect, as well as a high replication rate of DMRs (48.1%) in females across two independent cohorts. In our pan-tissue analysis, three genes (X-linked BCOR, GALNT9, OPCML) mapped to ASD DMRs replicated in all four female tissues. ASD DMRs from all tissues were enriched for neuro-related processes (females) and SFARI ASD-risk genes (females and males). Overall, we found a highly replicated methylation signature of ASD in females across perinatal tissues that reflected dysregulation in the brain and involvement of X chromosome epigenetics. This comparative study of perinatal tissues shows the promise of newborn blood DNA methylation biomarkers for early detection of females at risk for ASD and emphasizes the importance of sex-stratification in ASD studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia S Mouat
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Nickilou Y Krigbaum
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Sophia Hakam
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Emily Thrall
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Julia Mellis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Dag H Yasui
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Piera M Cirillo
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Yunin Ludena
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Environmental Health Sciences Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Environmental Health Sciences Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Barbara A Cohn
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
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Gunter-Rahman F, Mallett S, White F, Jacques PÉ, Raju RM, Hivert MF, Lee EA. Maternal obesity and offspring neurodevelopment are associated with hypoxic gene expression in term human placenta. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.10.602900. [PMID: 39026777 PMCID: PMC11257614 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.10.602900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
One third of women in the United States are affected by obesity during pregnancy. Maternal obesity (MO) is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders in the offspring. The placenta, located at the maternal-fetal interface, is a key organ determining fetal development and likely contributes to programming of long-term offspring health. We profiled the term placental transcriptome in humans (pre-pregnancy BMI 35+ [MO condition] or 18.5-25 [lean condition]) using single-nucleus RNA-seq to compare expression profiles in MO versus lean conditions, and to reveal potential mechanisms underlying offspring disease risk. We recovered 62,864 nuclei of high quality from 10 samples each from the maternal-facing and fetal-facing sides of the placenta. On both sides in several cell types, MO was associated with upregulation of hypoxia response genes. On the maternal-facing side only, hypoxia gene expression was associated with offspring neurodevelopmental measures, in Gen3G, an independent pregnancy cohort with bulk placental tissue RNA-seq. We leveraged Gen3G to determine genes that correlated with impaired neurodevelopment and found these genes to be most highly expressed in extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). EVTs further showed the strongest correlation between neurodevelopment impairment gene scores (NDIGSs) and the hypoxia gene score. We reanalyzed gene expression of cultured EVTs, and found increased NDIGSs associated with exposure to hypoxia. Among EVTs, accounting for the hypoxia gene score attenuated 44% of the association between BMI and NDIGSs. These data suggest that hypoxia in EVTs may be a key process in the neurodevelopmental programming of fetal exposure to MO.
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Jedynak P, Siroux V, Broséus L, Tost J, Busato F, Gabet S, Thomsen C, Sakhi AK, Sabaredzovic A, Lyon-Caen S, Bayat S, Slama R, Philippat C, Lepeule J. Epigenetic footprints: Investigating placental DNA methylation in the context of prenatal exposure to phenols and phthalates. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 189:108763. [PMID: 38824843 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as phthalates and phenols can affect placental functioning and fetal health, potentially via epigenetic modifications. We investigated the associations between pregnancy exposure to synthetic phenols and phthalates estimated from repeated urine sampling and genome wide placental DNA methylation. METHODS The study is based on 387 women with placental DNA methylation assessed with Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and with 7 phenols, 13 phthalates, and two non-phthalate plasticizer metabolites measured in pools of urine samples collected twice during pregnancy. We conducted an exploratory analysis on individual CpGs (EWAS) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) as well as a candidate analysis focusing on 20 previously identified CpGs. Sex-stratified analyses were also performed. RESULTS In the exploratory analysis, when both sexes were studied together no association was observed in the EWAS. In the sex-stratified analysis, 114 individual CpGs (68 in males, 46 in females) were differentially methylated, encompassing 74 genes (36 for males and 38 for females). We additionally identified 28 DMRs in the entire cohort, 40 for females and 42 for males. Associations were mostly positive (for DMRs: 93% positive associations in the entire cohort, 60% in the sex-stratified analysis), with the exception of several associations for bisphenols and DINCH metabolites that were negative. Biomarkers associated with most DMRs were parabens, DEHP, and DiNP metabolite concentrations. Some DMRs encompassed imprinted genes including APC (associated with parabens and DiNP metabolites), GNAS (bisphenols), ZIM2;PEG3;MIMT1 (parabens, monoethyl phthalate), and SGCE;PEG10 (parabens, DINCH metabolites). Terms related to adiposity, lipid and glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular function were among the enriched phenotypes associated with differentially methylated CpGs. The candidate analysis identified one CpG mapping to imprinted LGALS8 gene, negatively associated with ethylparaben. CONCLUSIONS By combining improved exposure assessment and extensive placental epigenome coverage, we identified several novel genes associated with the exposure, possibly in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Jedynak
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valérie Siroux
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Lucile Broséus
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Jörg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA - Institut de Biologie François Jacob, University Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Florence Busato
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA - Institut de Biologie François Jacob, University Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Stephan Gabet
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France; Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, ULR 4483-IMPacts de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé (IMPECS), 59000 Lille, France
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institue of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Amrit K Sakhi
- Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institue of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Sarah Lyon-Caen
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Sam Bayat
- Department of Pulmonology and Physiology, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Claire Philippat
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France.
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
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Denomme MM, McCallie BR, Haywood ME, Parks JC, Schoolcraft WB, Katz-Jaffe MG. Paternal aging impacts expression and epigenetic markers as early as the first embryonic tissue lineage differentiation. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:32. [PMID: 38532526 PMCID: PMC10964547 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00599-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with adverse outcomes to offspring health, including increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the methylome and transcriptome of the first two early embryonic tissue lineages, the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE), from human blastocysts in association with paternal age and disease risk. High quality human blastocysts were donated with patient consent from donor oocyte IVF cycles from either APA (≥ 50 years) or young fathers. Blastocysts were mechanically separated into ICM and TE lineage samples for both methylome and transcriptome analyses. RESULTS Significant differential methylation and transcription was observed concurrently in ICM and TE lineages of APA-derived blastocysts compared to those from young fathers. The methylome revealed significant enrichment for neuronal signaling pathways, as well as an association with neurodevelopmental disorders and imprinted genes, largely overlapping within both the ICM and TE lineages. Significant enrichment of neurodevelopmental signaling pathways was also observed for differentially expressed genes, but only in the ICM. In stark contrast, no significant signaling pathways or gene ontology terms were identified in the trophectoderm. Despite normal semen parameters in aged fathers, these significant molecular alterations can adversely contribute to downstream impacts on offspring health, in particular neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS An increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders is well described in children conceived by aged fathers. Using blastocysts derived from donor oocyte IVF cycles to strategically control for maternal age, our data reveals evidence of methylation dysregulation in both tissue lineages, as well as transcription dysregulation in neurodevelopmental signaling pathways associated with APA fathers. This data also reveals that embryos derived from APA fathers do not appear to be compromised for initial implantation potential with no significant pathway signaling disruption in trophectoderm transcription. Collectively, our work provides insights into the complex molecular mechanisms that occur upon paternal aging during the first lineage differentiation in the preimplantation embryo. Early expression and epigenetic markers of APA-derived preimplantation embryos highlight the susceptibility of the future fetus to adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Blair R McCallie
- CCRM Genetics, 10290 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree, CO, 80124, USA
| | - Mary E Haywood
- CCRM Genetics, 10290 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree, CO, 80124, USA
| | - Jason C Parks
- CCRM Genetics, 10290 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree, CO, 80124, USA
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Gumusoglu SB. The role of the placenta-brain axis in psychoneuroimmune programming. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 36:100735. [PMID: 38420039 PMCID: PMC10900837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gestational exposures have enduring impacts on brain and neuroimmune development and function. Perturbations of pregnancy leading to placental structure/function deficits, cell stress, immune activation, and endocrine changes (metabolic, growth factors, etc.) all increase neuropsychiatric risk in offspring. The existing literature links obstetric diseases with placental involvement to offspring neuroimmune outcomes and neurodevelopmental risk. Psychoneuroimmune outcomes in offspring brain include changes to microglia, cytokine/chemokine production, cell stress, and long-term immunoreactivity. These outcomes are altered by structural, anti-angiogenic/hypoxic, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases of the placenta. This fetal programming occurs via direct placental passage or production of factors which can act directly on fetal brain substrates, or indirectly via action of circulating factors on intermediates in the placenta. Placental neuroendocrine, vascular/angiogenic, immune, and extracellular vesicular mechanisms are detailed. These mechanisms interact within various placental and pregnancy conditions. An increased understanding of the placental origins of psychoneuroimmunology will yield dividends for human health. Identifying maternal and placental biomarkers for fetal neuroimmune health may also revolutionize early diagnosis and precision psychiatry, empowering patients to make the best healthcare decisions for their families. Targeting placental mechanisms may be a valuable approach for the prevention and mitigation of intergenerational, lifelong neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena B. Gumusoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Dr. Iowa City, IA, 52327, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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6
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Alberca CD, Papale LA, Madrid A, Alisch RS. Hippocampal and peripheral blood DNA methylation signatures correlate at the gene and pathway level in a mouse model of autism. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:3312-3322. [PMID: 37658766 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad137] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are polygenic multifactorial disorders influenced by environmental factors. ASD-related differential DNA methylation has been found in human peripheral tissues, such as placenta, paternal sperm, buccal epithelium, and blood. However, these data lack direct comparison of DNA methylation levels with brain tissue from the same individual to determine the extent that peripheral tissues are surrogates for behavior-related disorders. Here, whole genome methylation profiling at all the possible sites throughout the mouse genome (>25 million) from both brain and blood tissues revealed novel insights into the systemic contributions of DNA methylation to ASD. Sixty-six differentially methylated regions (DMRs) share the same genomic coordinates in these two tissues, many of which are linked to risk genes for neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities (e.g. Prkch, Ptn, Hcfc1, Mid1, and Nfia). Gene ontological pathways revealed a significant number of common terms between brain and blood (N = 65 terms), and nearly half (30/65) were associated with brain/neuronal development. Furthermore, seven DMR-associated genes among these terms contain methyl-sensitive transcription factor sequence motifs within the DMRs of both tissues; four of them (Cux2, Kcnip2, Fgf13, and Mrtfa) contain the same methyl-sensitive transcription factor binding sequence motifs (HES1/2/5, TBX2 and TFAP2C), suggesting DNA methylation influences the binding of common transcription factors required for gene expression. Together, these findings suggest that peripheral blood is a good surrogate tissue for brain and support that DNA methylation contributes to altered gene regulation in the pathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina D Alberca
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States
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Cuomo M, Coretti L, Costabile D, Della Monica R, De Riso G, Buonaiuto M, Trio F, Bravaccio C, Visconti R, Berni Canani R, Chiariotti L, Lembo F. Host fecal DNA specific methylation signatures mark gut dysbiosis and inflammation in children affected by autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18197. [PMID: 37875530 PMCID: PMC10598023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45132-0] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut-brain axis involves several bidirectional pathway communications including microbiome, bacterial metabolites, neurotransmitters as well as immune system and is perturbed both in brain and in gastrointestinal disorders. Consistently, microbiota-gut-brain axis has been found altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We reasoned that such alterations occurring in ASD may impact both on methylation signatures of human host fecal DNA (HFD) and possibly on the types of human cells shed in the stools from intestinal tract giving origin to HFD. To test this hypothesis, we have performed whole genome methylation analysis of HFD from an age-restricted cohort of young children with ASD (N = 8) and healthy controls (N = 7). In the same cohort we have previously investigated the fecal microbiota composition and here we refined such analysis and searched for eventual associations with data derived from HFD methylome analysis. Our results showed that specific epigenetic signatures in human fecal DNA, especially at genes related to inflammation, associated with the disease. By applying methylation-based deconvolution algorithm, we found that the HFD derived mainly from immune cells and the relative abundance of those differed between patients and controls. Consistently, most of differentially methylated regions fitted with genes involved in inflammatory response. Interestingly, using Horvath epigenetic clock, we found that ASD affected children showed both epigenetic and microbiota age accelerated. We believe that the present unprecedented approach may be useful for the identification of the ASD associated HFD epigenetic signatures and may be potentially extended to other brain disorders and intestinal inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariella Cuomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorena Coretti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Costabile
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy
- SEMM-European School of Molecular Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Della Monica
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulia De Riso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Michela Buonaiuto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Trio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmela Bravaccio
- Department of Translational Medical Science - Pediatric Section, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Visconti
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore", Italian National Council of Research, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Berni Canani
- Department of Translational Medical Science - Pediatric Section, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Chiariotti
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies "Franco Salvatore", Via G. Salvatore 482, 80145, Naples, Italy.
- SEMM-European School of Molecular Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
| | - Francesca Lembo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy.
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Tran MTMT, Kuo FC, Low JT, Chuang YM, Sultana S, Huang WL, Lin ZY, Lin GL, Wu CF, Li SS, Suen JL, Hung CH, Wu MT, Chan MWY. Prenatal DEHP exposure predicts neurological disorders via transgenerational epigenetics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7399. [PMID: 37149698 PMCID: PMC10164151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34661-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent experimental and observational research has suggested that childhood allergic asthma and other conditions may be the result of prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants, such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). In a previous epidemiological study, we found that ancestral exposure (F0 generation) to endocrine disruptors or the common plasticizer DEHP promoted allergic airway inflammation via transgenerational transmission in mice from generation F1 to F4. In the current study, we employed a MethylationEPIC Beadchip microarray to examine global DNA methylation in the human placenta as a function of maternal exposure to DEHP during pregnancy. Interestingly, global DNA hypomethylation was observed in placental DNA following exposure to DEHP at high concentrations. Bioinformatic analysis confirmed that DNA methylation affected genes related to neurological disorders, such as autism and dementia. These results suggest that maternal exposure to DEHP may predispose offspring to neurological diseases. Given the small sample size in this study, the potential role of DNA methylation as a biomarker to assess the risk of these diseases deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mita T M T Tran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Chen Kuo
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jie-Ting Low
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ming Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Sofia Sultana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Long Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Zhe-Young Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Ling Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- International Master Program of Translational Medicine, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Sih-Syuan Li
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Ling Suen
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsing Hung
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- PhD Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Room 721, CS Building, No.100, Shih-Chuan 1St Road, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Michael W Y Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan.
- Epigenomics and Human Disease Research Center, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
- Center for Innovative Research on Aging Society (CIRAS), National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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