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Cameron VA, Jones GT, Horwood LJ, Pilbrow AP, Martin J, Frampton C, Ip WT, Troughton RW, Greer C, Yang J, Epton MJ, Harris SL, Darlow BA. DNA methylation patterns at birth predict health outcomes in young adults born very low birthweight. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:47. [PMID: 36959629 PMCID: PMC10035230 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01463-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals born very low birthweight (VLBW) are at increased risk of impaired cardiovascular and respiratory function in adulthood. To identify markers to predict future risk for VLBW individuals, we analyzed DNA methylation at birth and at 28 years in the New Zealand (NZ) VLBW cohort (all infants born < 1500 g in NZ in 1986) compared with age-matched, normal birthweight controls. Associations between neonatal methylation and cardiac structure and function (echocardiography), vascular function and respiratory outcomes at age 28 years were documented. Results Genomic DNA from archived newborn heel-prick blood (n = 109 VLBW, 51 controls) and from peripheral blood at ~ 28 years (n = 215 VLBW, 96 controls) was analyzed on Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC 850 K arrays. Following quality assurance and normalization, methylation levels were compared between VLBW cases and controls at both ages by linear regression, with genome-wide significance set to p < 0.05 adjusted for false discovery rate (FDR, Benjamini-Hochberg). In neonates, methylation at over 16,400 CpG methylation sites differed between VLBW cases and controls and the canonical pathway most enriched for these CpGs was Cardiac Hypertrophy Signaling (p = 3.44E−11). The top 20 CpGs that differed most between VLBW cases and controls featured clusters in ARID3A, SPATA33, and PLCH1 and these 3 genes, along with MCF2L, TRBJ2-1 and SRC, led the list of 15,000 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) reaching FDR-adj significance. Fifteen of the 20 top CpGs in the neonate EWAS showed associations between methylation at birth and adult cardiovascular traits (particularly LnRHI). In 28-year-old adults, twelve CpGs differed between VLBW cases and controls at FDR-adjusted significance, including hypermethylation in EBF4 (four CpGs), CFI and UNC119B and hypomethylation at three CpGs in HIF3A and one in KCNQ1. DNA methylation GrimAge scores at 28 years were significantly greater in VLBW cases versus controls and weakly associated with cardiovascular traits. Four CpGs were identified where methylation differed between VLBW cases and controls in both neonates and adults, three reversing directions with age (two CpGs in EBF4, one in SNAI1 were hypomethylated in neonates, hypermethylated in adults). Of these, cg16426670 in EBF4 at birth showed associations with several cardiovascular traits in adults. Conclusions These findings suggest that methylation patterns in VLBW neonates may be informative about future adult cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes and have value in guiding early preventative care to improve adult health. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-023-01463-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky A. Cameron
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Gregory T. Jones
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - L. John Horwood
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Anna P. Pilbrow
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Julia Martin
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Chris Frampton
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Wendy T. Ip
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Richard W. Troughton
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Charlotte Greer
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Jun Yang
- grid.414299.30000 0004 0614 1349Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Michael J. Epton
- grid.414299.30000 0004 0614 1349Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sarah L. Harris
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Brian A. Darlow
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Schuermans A, den Harink T, Raman B, Smillie RW, Alsharqi M, Mohamed A, Lapidaire W, van Deutekom AW, Leeson P, Lewandowski AJ. Differing Impact of Preterm Birth on the Right and Left Atria in Adulthood. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e027305. [PMID: 36453643 PMCID: PMC9851437 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.027305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background Preterm birth affects 10% of live births and is associated with an altered left ventricular and right ventricular phenotype and increased cardiovascular disease risk in young adulthood. Because left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) volume and function are known independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes, we investigated whether these were altered in preterm-born young adults. Methods and Results Preterm-born (n=200) and term-born (n=266) adults aged 18 to 39 years underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. LA and RA maximal and minimal volumes (absolute, indexed to body surface area, and as a ratio to ventricular volumes) were obtained to study atrial morphology, while LA and RA stroke volume, strain, and strain rate were used to assess atrial function. Secondary analyses consisted of between-group comparisons based on degree of prematurity. Absolute RA volumes and RA volumes indexed to right ventricular volumes were significantly smaller in preterm-born compared with term-born adults. In addition, RA reservoir and booster strain were higher in preterm-born adults, possibly indicating functional compensation for the smaller RA volumes. LA volumes indexed to left ventricular volumes were significantly greater in preterm-born adults as compared with term-born adults, although absolute LA volumes were similar between groups. LA and RA changes were observed across gestational ages in the preterm group but were greatest in those born very-to-extremely preterm. Conclusions Preterm-born adults show changes in LA and RA structure and function, which may indicate subclinical cardiovascular disease. Further research into underlying mechanisms, opportunities for interventions, and their prognostic value is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Art Schuermans
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Cardiovascular SciencesKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Tamara den Harink
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Betty Raman
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Smillie
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Maryam Alsharqi
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Cardiac TechnologyCollege of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityDammamSaudi Arabia
| | - Afifah Mohamed
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging & Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Winok Lapidaire
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Arend W. van Deutekom
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric CardiologyErasmus MC‐Sophia Children’s HospitalRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Paul Leeson
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Lewandowski
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUnited Kingdom
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