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

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.