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DNA methylation in newborns compared to in utero exposures and health outcomes in children

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We have formed a consortium (Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics or PACE) together with other birth and child cohorts that have also measured methylation.

Summary

Recent studies suggest that exposures in pregnancy may affect the health and disease of offspring either at birth, in childhood or later.

Abstract:

Recent studies suggest that exposures in pregnancy may affect the health and disease of offspring either at birth, in childhood or later. Epigenetics is a mechanism that can transfer the effects of fetal life to later health. Epigenetics refers to modifications of DNA that do not alter the DNA sequence. Methylation is the best studied epigenetic modification. From 2011-2013, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) has funded full-genome methylation measurements using the Illumina 450K platform in more than 1,700 MoBa umbilical vein samples. In collaboration with other cohorts, we have found that methylation in newborns reveals maternal exposures such as smoking, folate intake and prenatal air pollution. Because epigenome-wide analyses require large samples, we have formed a consortium (Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics or PACE) together with other birth and child cohorts that have also measured methylation.

Project leader

Per Minor Magnus, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Project participants

Per Minor Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Tianyuan Wang, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Shanshan Zhao, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Christine Louise Parr, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Maria Christine Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Christian Magnus Page, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Quaker Harmon, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Sinjini Sikdar, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Mi Kyeong Lee, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Jianping Jin, Westat
Sarah Reese, National Institutes of Health
Wenche Nystad, Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Siri Eldevik Håberg, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Anita Haugan, Health Studies, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Start

29.08.2017

End

30.08.2022

Status

Concluded

Approvals

Regional committees for medical and health research ethics

Project owner/ Project manager

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Published |Updated