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Yaskolka Meir A, Wang G, Hong X, Hu FB, Wang X, Liang L. Newborn DNA methylation age differentiates long-term weight trajectories: the Boston Birth Cohort. BMC Med 2024; 22:373. [PMID: 39256781 PMCID: PMC11389437 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03568-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gestational age (GEAA) estimated by newborn DNA methylation (GAmAge) is associated with maternal prenatal exposures and immediate birth outcomes. However, the association of GAmAge with long-term overweight or obesity (OWO) trajectories is yet to be determined. METHODS GAmAge was calculated for 831 children from a US predominantly urban, low-income, multi-ethnic birth cohort based on cord blood DNA methylation profile using Illumina EPIC array. Repeated anthropometric measurements aligned with pediatric primary care schedule allowed us to calculate body-mass-index percentiles (BMIPCT) at specific age and to define long-term weight trajectories from birth to 18 years. RESULTS GAmAge was associated with BMIPCT trajectories, defined by 4 groups: stable (consistent OWO: "early OWO"; constant normal weight: "NW") or non-stable (OWO by year 1 of follow-up: "late OWO"; OWO by year 6 of follow-up: "NW to very late OWO"). GAmAge differentiated between the group with consistently normal BMIPCT pattern and the non-stable groups with late and very late OWO development. Such differentiation was observed in the age periods of birth to 1year, 3years, 6years, 10years, and 14years (p < 0.05 for all). The findings persisted after adjusting for GEAA, maternal smoking, delivery method, and child's sex in multivariate models. Birth weight was a mediator for the GAmAge effect on OWO status for specific groups at multiple age periods. CONCLUSIONS GAmAge is associated with BMIPCT trajectories from birth to age 18 years, independent of GEAA and birth weight. If further confirmed, GAmAge may serve as an early biomarker for predicting BMI trajectory to inform early risk assessment and prevention of OWO. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03228875).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Yaskolka Meir
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Guoying Wang
- Center On Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center On Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Frank B Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospitaland, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center On Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Liming Liang
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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2
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Dye CK, Alschuler DM, Wu H, Duarte C, Monk C, Belsky DW, Lee S, O’Donnell K, Baccarelli AA, Scorza P. Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Biological Aging During Pregnancy and in Newborns. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2427063. [PMID: 39120899 PMCID: PMC11316241 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.27063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), potentially traumatic experiences occurring before the age of 18 years, are associated with epigenetic aging later in life and may be transmitted across generations. Objective To test evidence of the transmission of biological embedding of life experience across generations by analyzing maternal ACEs and epigenetic clocks measured in mothers during pregnancy and in their children at birth. Design, Setting, and Participants For this cross-sectional study, data from the Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies (ARIES) substudy of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were analyzed. The ALSPAC study recruited 14 541 women who gave birth in the Avon Health District in the UK between April 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992. The ARIES substudy comprised 1018 mother-offspring dyads based on the availability of DNA samples profiled in 2014. Epigenetic age was estimated using DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks (including Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE) in mothers during pregnancy and the Knight and Bohlin cord blood epigenetic clocks in newborns. Analyses were performed between October 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023. Exposures A composite measure of maternal ACEs was the primary exposure in both maternal and offspring models; as a secondary analysis, individual ACEs were measured separately. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to investigate depression during pregnancy as an exposure. Main Outcomes and Measures Changes in epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) were investigated as the primary outcome in maternal models during pregnancy. Changes in epigenetic gestational age acceleration (GAA) were the primary outcome in offspring analyses. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between maternal ACEs and both outcomes. Results This study included 883 mother-child dyads. The mean (SD) maternal age at delivery was 29.8 (4.3) years. Pregnant women with higher ACE scores exhibited higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.33] years; P < .001). Maternal ACEs were not associated with GAA in newborns using P < .05 as a cutoff to determine statistical significance. Depression was associated with higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.06 [95% CI, 0.02 to 0.10] years; P = .01) in mothers during pregnancy, but not in newborns, and did not mediate the association between ACEs and EAA. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that maternal ACEs may be associated with epigenetic aging later in life, including during pregnancy, supporting a role for maternal ACEs in offspring development and health later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K. Dye
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | | | - Haotian Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Cristiane Duarte
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Kieran O’Donnell
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Pamela Scorza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, New York
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3
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Salontaji K, Haftorn KL, Sanders F, Page CM, Walton E, Felix JF, Bekkhus M, Bohlin J, Tiemeier H, Cecil CAM. Gestational epigenetic age and ADHD symptoms in childhood: a prospective, multi-cohort study. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02544-2. [PMID: 38561466 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02544-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), defined as the difference between chronological age and epigenetically predicted age, was calculated from multiple gestational epigenetic clocks (Bohlin, EPIC overlap, and Knight) using DNA methylation levels from cord blood in three large population-based birth cohorts: the Generation R Study (The Netherlands), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (United Kingdom), and the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (Norway). We hypothesized that a lower EAA associates prospectively with increased ADHD symptoms. We tested our hypotheses in these three cohorts and meta-analyzed the results (n = 3383). We replicated previous research on the association between gestational age (GA) and ADHD. Both clinically measured gestational age as well as epigenetic age measures at birth were negatively associated with ADHD symptoms at ages 5-7 years (clinical GA: β = -0.04, p < 0.001, Bohlin: β = -0.05, p = 0.01; EPIC overlap: β = -0.05, p = 0.01; Knight: β = -0.01, p = 0.26). Raw EAA (difference between clinical and epigenetically estimated gestational age) was positively associated with ADHD in our main model, whereas residual EAA (raw EAA corrected for clinical gestational age) was not associated with ADHD symptoms across cohorts. Overall, findings support a link between lower gestational age (either measured clinically or using epigenetic-derived estimates) and ADHD symptoms. Epigenetic age acceleration does not, however, add unique information about ADHD risk independent of clinically estimated gestational age at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Salontaji
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kristine L Haftorn
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Faye Sanders
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Christian M Page
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Physical Health and Ageing, Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Esther Walton
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mona Bekkhus
- Promenta research centre, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jon Bohlin
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department for methods development and analysis, section for modeling and bioinformatics, Division for infectious diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte A M Cecil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Lumour-Mensah T, Lemos B. Evidence of reduced gestational age in response to in utero arsenic exposure and implications for aging trajectories of the newborn. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108566. [PMID: 38461780 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108566] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic exposure is associated with a plethora of age-related health outcomes of disparate etiology. However, evidence of the impact of arsenic on aging remains limited. Here, we investigated the utility of epigenetic clocks in two different populations and the impact of maternal arsenic exposure during pregnancy on epigenetic gestational age at birth. To do this, we examined publicly available DNA methylation data and estimated gestational age across five gestational clocks in two unrelated human populations. These populations also differ in the extent of arsenic exposure and the targeted tissue of analysis (cord blood and placental tissue). Our results indicate that same-tissue clocks produce gestational age estimates that are more highly correlated with clinical gestational age. Interestingly, our results also indicate that arsenic exposure is associated with gestational age, with higher arsenic exposures associated with decreased gestational age. We also applied two pediatric clocks to evaluate infant biological age in the same samples. The data is suggestive of higher pediatric age in infants exposed to higher arsenic levels during gestation. Taken altogether, our findings are consistent with past work indicating that that in utero arsenic exposure is associated with decreased gestational maturity as characterized by infant outcomes such as low birthweight and lung underdevelopment and dysfunction in arsenic exposed infants. The findings are also consistent with arsenic exposure setting infants on a trajectory of accelerated epigenetic aging that starts at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha Lumour-Mensah
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bernardo Lemos
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; Coit Center for Longevity and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
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5
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Bozack AK, Rifas-Shiman SL, Baccarelli AA, Wright RO, Gold DR, Oken E, Hivert MF, Cardenas A. Associations of prenatal one-carbon metabolism nutrients and metals with epigenetic aging biomarkers at birth and in childhood in a US cohort. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3107-3136. [PMID: 38412256 PMCID: PMC10929819 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205602] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA) at birth and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in childhood may be biomarkers of the intrauterine environment. We investigated the extent to which first-trimester folate, B12, 5 essential, and 7 non-essential metals in maternal circulation are associated with EGAA and EAA in early life. Bohlin EGAA and Horvath pan-tissue and skin and blood EAA were calculated using DNA methylation measured in cord blood (N=351) and mid-childhood blood (N=326; median age = 7.7 years) in the Project Viva pre-birth cohort. A one standard deviation increase in individual essential metals (copper, manganese, and zinc) was associated with 0.94-1.2 weeks lower Horvath EAA at birth, and patterns of exposures identified by exploratory factor analysis suggested that a common source of essential metals was associated with Horvath EAA. We also observed evidence nonlinear associations of zinc with Bohlin EGAA, magnesium and lead with Horvath EAA, and cesium with skin and blood EAA at birth. Overall, associations at birth did not persist in mid-childhood; however, arsenic was associated with greater EAA at birth and in childhood. Prenatal metals, including essential metals and arsenic, are associated with epigenetic aging in early life, which might be associated with future health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - 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 02215, USA
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, 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 02215, 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 02215, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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6
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Kim C, Harrall KK, Glueck DH, Hockett C, Dabelea D. Epigenetic age acceleration is associated with speed of pubertal growth but not age of pubertal onset. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2981. [PMID: 38316849 PMCID: PMC10844280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53508-z] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Using data from a longitudinal cohort of children, we examined whether epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) was associated with pubertal growth and whether these associations were mediated by adiposity. We examined associations between EAA at approximately 10 years of age with pubertal growth metrics, including age at peak height velocity (PHV), PHV, and sex steroid levels and whether these associations were mediated by measures of adiposity including body mass index (BMI) and MRI-assessed visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Children (n = 135) with accelerated EAA had higher PHV (β 0.018, p = 0.0008) although the effect size was small. The association between EAA and age at PHV was not significant (β - 0.0022, p = 0.067). Although EAA was associated with higher BMI (β 0.16, p = 0.0041), VAT (β 0.50, p = 0.037), and SAT (β 3.47, p = 0.0076), BMI and VAT did not mediate associations between EAA and PHV, while SAT explained 8.4% of the association. Boys with higher EAA had lower total testosterone (β - 12.03, p = 0.0014), but associations between EAA and other sex steroids were not significant, and EAA was not associated with sex steroid levels in girls. We conclude that EAA did not have strong associations with either age at onset of puberty or pubertal growth speed, although associations with growth speed were statistically significant. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm this pattern of associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Kim
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, Room 405E, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Kylie K Harrall
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Deborah H Glueck
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christine Hockett
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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7
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Khodasevich D, Holland N, Hubbard A, Harley K, Deardorff J, Eskenazi B, Cardenas A. Associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and childhood epigenetic age acceleration. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116067. [PMID: 37149020 PMCID: PMC10330458 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalates, a group of pervasive endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics and personal care products, have been associated with a wide range of developmental and health outcomes. However, their impact on biomarkers of aging has not been characterized. We tested associations between prenatal exposure to 11 phthalate metabolites on epigenetic aging in children at birth, 7, 9, and 14 years of age. We hypothesized that prenatal phthalate exposure will be associated with epigenetic age acceleration measures at birth and in early childhood, with patterns dependent on sex and timing of DNAm measurement. METHODS Among 385 mother-child pairs from the CHAMACOS cohort, we measured DNAm at birth, 7, 9, and 14 years of age, and utilized adjusted linear regression to assess the association between prenatal phthalate exposure and Bohlin's Gestational Age Acceleration (GAA) at birth and Intrinsic Epigenetic Age Acceleration (IEAA) throughout childhood. Additionally, quantile g-computation was utilized to assess the effect of the phthalate mixture on GAA at birth and IEAA throughout childhood. RESULTS We found a negative association between prenatal di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and IEAA among males at age 7 (-0.62 years; 95% CI:-1.06 to -0.18), and a marginal negative association between the whole phthalate mixture and GAA among males at birth (-1.54 days, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.28), while most other associations were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to certain phthalates is associated with epigenetic aging in children. Additionally, our findings suggest that the influence of prenatal exposures on epigenetic age may only manifest during specific periods of child development, and studies relying on DNAm measurements solely from cord blood or single time points may overlook potential relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Khodasevich
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nina Holland
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alan Hubbard
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kim Harley
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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8
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Peng G, Sosnowski DW, Murphy SK, Johnson SB, Skaar D, Schleif WS, Hernandez RG, Monforte H, Zhao H, Hoyo C. An epigenetic clock for gestational age based on human umbilical vein endothelial cells from a diverse population of newborns. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3112428. [PMID: 37461438 PMCID: PMC10350106 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3112428/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Epigenetic clocks are emerging as a useful tool in many areas of research. Many epigenetic clocks have been developed for adults; however, there are fewer clocks focused on newborns and most are trained using blood from European ancestry populations. In this study, we built an epigenetic clock based on primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells from a racially and ethnically diverse population. Results Using human umbilical vein endothelial cell [HUVEC]-derived DNA, we calculated epigenetic gestational age using 83 CpG sites selected through elastic net regression. In this study with newborns from different racial/ethnic identities, epigenetic gestational age and clinical gestational age were more highly correlated (r = 0.85), than epigenetic clocks built from adult and other pediatric populations. The correlation was also higher than clocks based on blood samples from newborns with European ancestry. We also found that birth weight was positively associated with epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA), while NICU admission was associated with lower EGAA. Newborns self-identified as Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black had lower EGAA than self-identified as non-Hispanic White. Conclusions Epigenetic gestational age can be used to estimate clinical gestational age and may help index neonatal development. Caution should be exercised when using epigenetic clocks built from adults with children, especially newborns. We highlight the importance of cell type-specific epigenetic clocks and general pan tissue epigenetic clocks derived from a large racially and ethnically diverse population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Peng
- Indiana University School of Medicine
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9
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Polinski KJ, Robinson SL, Putnick DL, Guan W, Gleason JL, Mumford SL, Sundaram R, Mendola P, London S, Yeung EH. Epigenetic gestational age and the relationship with developmental milestones in early childhood. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:1565-1574. [PMID: 36617164 PMCID: PMC10117157 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Shorter gestational age (GA) is a risk factor of developmental delay. GA is usually estimated clinically from last menstrual period and ultrasound. DNA methylation (DNAm) estimates GA using sets of cytosine-guanine-sites coupled with a clock algorithm. Therefore, DNAm-estimated GA may better reflect biological maturation. A DNAm GA greater than clinical GA, known as gestational age acceleration (GAA), may indicate epigenetic maturity and holds potential as an early biomarker for developmental delay risk. We used data from the Upstate KIDS Study to examine associations of DNAm GA and developmental delay within the first 3 years based on the Ages & Stages Questionnaire® (n = 1010). We estimated DNAm GA using two clocks specific to the Illumina Methylation EPIC 850K, the Haftorn clock and one developed from the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction study, in which women were followed to detect pregnancy at the earliest time possible. Among singletons, each week increase in DNAm GA was protective for overall delay (odds ratio:0.74; 95% confidence interval:0.61-0.90) and delay in all domains except for problem-solving skills. Among twins, we observed similar point estimates but lower precision. Results were similar for clinical GA. GAA was largely not associated with developmental delays. In summary, either DNAm GA or clinical GA at birth, but not epigenetic maturity (i.e. GAA), was associated with decreased odds of developmental delay in early childhood. Our study does not support using DNAm GA or GAA as separate risk factors for future risk of developmental delay within the first 3 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen J Polinski
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Sonia L Robinson
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Weihua Guan
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jessica L Gleason
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Sunni L Mumford
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rajeshwari Sundaram
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Stephanie London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Edwina H Yeung
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
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Bozack AK, Rifas-Shiman SL, Gold DR, Laubach ZM, Perng W, Hivert MF, Cardenas A. DNA methylation age at birth and childhood: performance of epigenetic clocks and characteristics associated with epigenetic age acceleration in the Project Viva cohort. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:62. [PMID: 37046280 PMCID: PMC10099681 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01480-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA) are biomarkers of physiological development and may be affected by the perinatal environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate performance of epigenetic clocks and to identify biological and sociodemographic correlates of EGAA and EAA at birth and in childhood. In the Project Viva pre-birth cohort, DNA methylation was measured in nucleated cells in cord blood (leukocytes and nucleated red blood cells, N = 485) and leukocytes in early (N = 120, median age = 3.2 years) and mid-childhood (N = 460, median age = 7.7 years). We calculated epigenetic gestational age (EGA; Bohlin and Knight clocks) and epigenetic age (EA; Horvath and skin & blood clocks), and respective measures of EGAA and EAA. We evaluated the performance of clocks relative to chronological age using correlations and median absolute error. We tested for associations of maternal-child characteristics with EGAA and EAA using mutually adjusted linear models controlling for estimated cell type proportions. We also tested associations of Horvath EA at birth with childhood EAA. RESULTS Bohlin EGA was strongly correlated with chronological gestational age (Bohlin EGA r = 0.82, p < 0.001). Horvath and skin & blood EA were weakly correlated with gestational age, but moderately correlated with chronological age in childhood (r = 0.45-0.65). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with higher skin & blood EAA at birth [B (95% CI) = 1.17 weeks (- 0.09, 2.42)] and in early childhood [0.34 years (0.03, 0.64)]. Female newborns and children had lower Bohlin EGAA [- 0.17 weeks (- 0.30, - 0.04)] and Horvath EAA at birth [B (95% CI) = - 2.88 weeks (- 4.41, - 1.35)] and in childhood [early childhood: - 0.3 years (- 0.60, 0.01); mid-childhood: - 0.48 years (- 0.77, - 0.18)] than males. When comparing self-reported Asian, Black, Hispanic, and more than one race or other racial/ethnic groups to White, we identified significant differences in EGAA and EAA at birth and in mid-childhood, but associations varied across clocks. Horvath EA at birth was positively associated with childhood Horvath and skin & blood EAA. CONCLUSIONS Maternal smoking during pregnancy and child sex were associated with EGAA and EAA at multiple timepoints. Further research may provide insight into the relationship between perinatal factors, pediatric epigenetic aging, and health and development across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Research Park, 1701 Page Mill Road, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - 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
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary M Laubach
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Wei Perng
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health and Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 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 Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Research Park, 1701 Page Mill Road, Stanford, CA, USA.
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11
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O'Keeffe LM, Yelverton CA, Bartels HC, O'Neill KN, McDonnell C, McAuliffe FM. Application of multilevel linear spline models for analysis of growth trajectories in a cohort with repeat antenatal and postnatal measures of growth: a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e065701. [PMID: 36972957 PMCID: PMC10069489 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To model trajectories of antenatal and postnatal growth using linear spline multilevel models. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland. PARTICIPANTS 720-759 mother-child pairs from the ROLO study (initially a randomised control trial of a low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy to prevent recurrence of macrosomia [birth weight >4 kg]). PRIMARY OUTCOMES Trajectories of growth from 20 weeks gestation (abdominal circumference [AC], head circumference [HC] and weight) or birth (length/height) to 5 years. RESULTS Over 50% of women had third-level education and 90% were of white ethnicity. Women were a mean (SD) age of 32 years (4.2) at recruitment. The best fitting model for AC, HC and weight included a model with 5 linear spline periods. The best fitting models for length/height included a model with 3 linear spline periods from birth to 6 months, 6 months to 2 years and 2 years to 5 years. Comparison of observed and predicted values for each model demonstrated good model fit. For all growth measures, growth rates were generally fastest in pregnancy or immediately post partum (for length/height), with rates of growth slowing after birth and becoming slower still as infancy and childhood progressed. CONCLUSION We demonstrate the application of multilevel linear spline models for examining growth trajectories when both antenatal and postnatal measures of growth are available. The approach may be useful for cohort studies or randomised control trials with repeat prospective assessments of growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M O'Keeffe
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Cara A Yelverton
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helena C Bartels
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kate N O'Neill
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ciara McDonnell
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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12
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Alfano R, Zugna D, Barros H, Bustamante M, Chatzi L, Ghantous A, Herceg Z, Keski-Rahkonen P, de Kok TM, Nawrot TS, Relton CL, Robinson O, Roumeliotaki T, Scalbert A, Vrijheid M, Vineis P, Richiardi L, Plusquin M. Cord blood epigenome-wide meta-analysis in six European-based child cohorts identifies signatures linked to rapid weight growth. BMC Med 2023; 21:17. [PMID: 36627699 PMCID: PMC9831885 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02685-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid postnatal growth may result from exposure in utero or early life to adverse conditions and has been associated with diseases later in life and, in particular, with childhood obesity. DNA methylation, interfacing early-life exposures and subsequent diseases, is a possible mechanism underlying early-life programming. METHODS Here, a meta-analysis of Illumina HumanMethylation 450K/EPIC-array associations of cord blood DNA methylation at single CpG sites and CpG genomic regions with rapid weight growth at 1 year of age (defined with reference to WHO growth charts) was conducted in six European-based child cohorts (ALSPAC, ENVIRONAGE, Generation XXI, INMA, Piccolipiù, and RHEA, N = 2003). The association of gestational age acceleration (calculated using the Bohlin epigenetic clock) with rapid weight growth was also explored via meta-analysis. Follow-up analyses of identified DNA methylation signals included prediction of rapid weight growth, mediation of the effect of conventional risk factors on rapid weight growth, integration with transcriptomics and metabolomics, association with overweight in childhood (between 4 and 8 years), and comparison with previous findings. RESULTS Forty-seven CpGs were associated with rapid weight growth at suggestive p-value <1e-05 and, among them, three CpGs (cg14459032, cg25953130 annotated to ARID5B, and cg00049440 annotated to KLF9) passed the genome-wide significance level (p-value <1.25e-07). Sixteen differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified as associated with rapid weight growth at false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted/Siddak p-values < 0.01. Gestational age acceleration was associated with decreasing risk of rapid weight growth (p-value = 9.75e-04). Identified DNA methylation signals slightly increased the prediction of rapid weight growth in addition to conventional risk factors. Among the identified signals, three CpGs partially mediated the effect of gestational age on rapid weight growth. Both CpGs (N=3) and DMRs (N=3) were associated with differential expression of transcripts (N=10 and 7, respectively), including long non-coding RNAs. An AURKC DMR was associated with childhood overweight. We observed enrichment of CpGs previously reported associated with birthweight. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence of the association between cord blood DNA methylation and rapid weight growth and suggest links with prenatal exposures and association with childhood obesity providing opportunities for early prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Alfano
- Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Daniela Zugna
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - Henrique Barros
- Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Institute of Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Akram Ghantous
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Zdenko Herceg
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Pekka Keski-Rahkonen
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Theo M de Kok
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Caroline L Relton
- Μedical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Oliver Robinson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Well-being, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Theano Roumeliotaki
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Augustin Scalbert
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Paolo Vineis
- Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lorenzo Richiardi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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13
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Monasso GS, Voortman T, Felix JF. Maternal plasma fatty acid patterns in mid-pregnancy and offspring epigenetic gestational age at birth. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1562-1572. [PMID: 35581922 PMCID: PMC9586633 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2076051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal pregnancy fatty acid status is associated with child health. Epigenetic gestational age acceleration, referring to a discrepancy between chronological and epigenetic gestational age, may underlie these associations. Previous research suggests that analysing fatty acid patterns rather than individual fatty acids may overcome the caveat of missing synergistic or additive effects. Among 1226 mother-newborn pairs from the population-based Generation R Study, we examined the associations of three maternal plasma mid-pregnancy fatty acid patterns, identified by principal component analysis, with offspring epigenetic gestational age acceleration. This was estimated from cord blood DNA methylation data using the method developed by Bohlin. As a secondary analysis, we used the method developed by Knight to estimate epigenetic gestational age. The identified 'high n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid,' 'monounsaturated and saturated fatty acid' and 'high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid' patterns were not associated with epigenetic gestational age acceleration in the main analyses. In sensitivity analyses restricted to 337 children born to mothers with more accurate pregnancy dating based on a regular menstrual cycle, a one standard-deviation-score higher maternal plasma 'high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid' pattern was associated with an epigenetic gestational age acceleration of 0.20 weeks (95% CI 0.06, 0.33), but only when using the Knight method. Thus, we found some evidence that a maternal plasma fatty acid pattern characterized by higher concentrations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be associated with accelerated epigenetic gestational ageing. These findings depended on the method used and the accuracy of pregnancy dating and therefore need confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta S. Monasso
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Trudy Voortman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janine F. Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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14
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Chao A, Grossman J, Carberry C, Lai Y, Williams AJ, Minucci JM, Purucker ST, Szilagyi J, Lu K, Boggess K, Fry RC, Sobus JR, Rager JE. Integrative exposomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic analyses of human placental samples links understudied chemicals to preeclampsia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107385. [PMID: 35952468 PMCID: PMC9552572 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental health research has recently undergone a dramatic shift, with ongoing technological advancements allowing for broader coverage of exposure and molecular biology signatures. Approaches to integrate such measures are still needed to increase understanding between systems-level exposure and biology. OBJECTIVES We address this gap by evaluating placental tissues to identify novel chemical-biological interactions associated with preeclampsia. This study tests the hypothesis that understudied chemicals are present in the human placenta and associated with preeclampsia-relevant disruptions, including overall case status (preeclamptic vs. normotensive patients) and underlying transcriptomic/epigenomic signatures. METHODS A non-targeted analysis based on high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze placental tissues from a cohort of 35 patients with preeclampsia (n = 18) and normotensive (n = 17) pregnancies. Molecular feature data were prioritized for confirmation based on association with preeclampsia case status and confidence of chemical identification. All molecular features were evaluated for relationships to mRNA, microRNA, and CpG methylation (i.e., multi-omic) signature alterations involved in preeclampsia. RESULTS A total of 183 molecular features were identified with significantly differentiated abundance in placental extracts of preeclamptic patients; these features clustered into distinct chemical groupings using unsupervised methods. Of these features, 53 were identified (mapping to 40 distinct chemicals) using chemical standards, fragmentation spectra, and chemical metadata. In general, human metabolites had the largest feature intensities and strongest associations with preeclampsia-relevant multi-omic changes. Exogenous drugs were second most abundant and had fewer associations with multi-omic changes. Other exogenous chemicals (non-drugs) were least abundant and had the fewest associations with multi-omic changes. CONCLUSIONS These global data trends suggest that human metabolites are heavily intertwined with biological processes involved in preeclampsia etiology, while exogenous chemicals may still impact select transcriptomic/epigenomic processes. This study serves as a demonstration of merging systems exposures with systems biology to better understand chemical-disease relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Chao
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Celeste Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yunjia Lai
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Antony J. Williams
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Minucci
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Public Health and Environmental Systems Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - S. Thomas Purucker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - John Szilagyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kim Boggess
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jon R. Sobus
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Julia E. Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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15
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Daredia S, Huen K, Van Der Laan L, Collender PA, Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Harley K, Deardorff J, Eskenazi B, Holland N, Cardenas A. Prenatal and birth associations of epigenetic gestational age acceleration in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) cohort. Epigenetics 2022; 17:2006-2021. [PMID: 35912433 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2102846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational age (GA) is an important determinant of child health and disease risk. Two epigenetic GA clocks have been developed using DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns in cord blood. We investigate the accuracy of GA clocks and determinants of epigenetic GA acceleration (GAA), a biomarker of biological ageing. We hypothesize that prenatal and birth characteristics are associated with altered GAA, thereby disrupting foetal biological ageing. We examined 372 mother-child pairs from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study of primarily Latino farmworkers in California. Chronological GA was robustly correlated with epigenetic GA (DNAm GA) estimated by the Knight (r = 0.48, p < 2.2x10-16) and Bohlin clocks (r = 0.67, p < 2.2x10-16) using the Illumina 450K array in cord blood samples collected at birth. GA clock performance was robust, though slightly lower, using DNAm profiles from the Illumina EPIC array in a smaller subsample (Knight: r = 0.39, p < 3.5x10-5; Bohlin: r = 0.60, p < 7.7x10-12). After adjusting for confounders, high maternal serum triglyceride levels (Bohlin: β = -0.01 days per mg/dL, p = 0.03), high maternal serum lipid levels (Bohlin: β = -4.31x10-3 days per mg/dL, p = 0.04), preterm delivery (Bohlin: β = -4.03 days, p = 9.64x10-4), greater maternal parity (Knight: β = -4.07 days, p = 0.01; Bohlin: β = -2.43 days, p = 0.01), and male infant sex (Knight: β = -3.15 days, p = 3.10x10-3) were associated with decreased GAA.Prenatal and birth characteristics affect GAA in newborns. Understanding factors that accelerate or delay biological ageing at birth may identify early-life targets for disease prevention and improve ageing across the life-course. Future research should test the impact of altered GAA on the long-term burden of age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saher Daredia
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Karen Huen
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lars Van Der Laan
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Philip A Collender
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jamaji C Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kim Harley
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nina Holland
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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16
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Koeck RM, Busato F, Tost J, Consten D, van Echten-Arends J, Mastenbroek S, Wurth Y, Remy S, Langie S, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M, Alfano R, Bijnens EM, Gielen M, van Golde R, Dumoulin JCM, Brunner H, van Montfoort APA, Zamani Esteki M. Methylome-wide analysis of IVF neonates that underwent embryo culture in different media revealed no significant differences. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:39. [PMID: 35768464 PMCID: PMC9243125 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00310-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing number of children born are conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which has been linked to an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, as well as altered growth profiles and cardiometabolic differences in the resultant individuals. Some of these outcomes have also been shown to be influenced by the use of different IVF culture media and this effect is hypothesised to be mediated epigenetically, e.g. through the methylome. As such, we profiled the umbilical cord blood methylome of IVF neonates that underwent preimplantation embryo development in two different IVF culture media (G5 or HTF), using the Infinium Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip. We found no significant methylation differences between the two groups in terms of: (i) systematic differences at CpG sites or regions, (ii) imprinted sites/genes or birth weight-associated sites, (iii) stochastic differences presenting as DNA methylation outliers or differentially variable sites, and (iv) epigenetic gestational age acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka M Koeck
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Florence Busato
- Laboratory for Epigenetics & Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Genomique Humaine, CEA - institut de Biologie François Jacob, Université Paris Saclay, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Jorg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics & Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Genomique Humaine, CEA - institut de Biologie François Jacob, Université Paris Saclay, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Dimitri Consten
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, St. Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, 5022, GC, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Jannie van Echten-Arends
- Section of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Mastenbroek
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Wurth
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, St. Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, 5022, GC, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvie Remy
- Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Sabine Langie
- Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.,Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Rossella Alfano
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marij Gielen
- Department of Epidemiology and Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ron van Golde
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - John C M Dumoulin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Han Brunner
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Aafke P A van Montfoort
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Masoud Zamani Esteki
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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17
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Zhang F, Ying L, Zhang Q, Wang F, Qu F. Association between maternal polycystic ovary syndrome and early childhood growth: a continuous observation from 3 months to 6 years of age. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:461-471. [PMID: 35048272 PMCID: PMC8956758 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02378-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether maternal PCOS could impact growth and development in offspring at an early age through continuous observation from age 3 months to 6 years. METHODS This prospective study was conducted in 198 children born to mothers with PCOS and 227 children born to healthy mothers in Ningbo (Zhejiang Province, China) between October 2012 and July 2015. Measurements of offspring height, weight, head circumference, and teething were examined by trained professionals through age 6 years. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance between the PCOS and control groups. RESULTS Offspring born to women with PCOS showed significantly higher BMI at age 12, 18, and 30 months and 5 years (P = 0.040, P = 0.000, P = 0.000, and P = 0.023, respectively). Female offspring born to women with PCOS showed significantly increased body weight at 3, 8, 12, 18, and 30 months, and 3 and 6 years (P = 0.027, P = 0.008, P = 0.010, P = 0.034, P = 0.047, P = 0.040, and P = 0.035, respectively) and significantly higher BMI at 3, 8, 12, 18, and 30 months (P = 0.009, P = 0.016, P = 0.029, P = 0.000, and P = 0.000, respectively). After adjusting for maternal, paternal, and pregnancy confounders, PCOS status presented significant associations with weight at age 3, 8, and 12 months and 3 years (P = 0.005, P = 0.004, P = 0.021, P = 0.035 respectively), and with BMI at age 3 and 8 months (P = 0.011 and P = 0.014) in female offspring. CONCLUSIONS Maternal PCOS is associated with an increased risk of developing obesity in female offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Zhang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XWomen’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liying Ying
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XWomen’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006 People’s Republic of China ,Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XWomen’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XWomen’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Qu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XWomen’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006 People’s Republic of China
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18
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Alfano R, Robinson O, Handakas E, Nawrot TS, Vineis P, Plusquin M. Perspectives and challenges of epigenetic determinants of childhood obesity: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2022; 23 Suppl 1:e13389. [PMID: 34816569 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The tremendous increase in childhood obesity prevalence over the last few decades cannot merely be explained by genetics and evolutionary changes in the genome, implying that gene-environment interactions, such as epigenetic modifications, likely play a major role. This systematic review aims to summarize the evidence of the association between epigenetics and childhood obesity. A literature search was performed via PubMed and Scopus engines using a combination of terms related to epigenetics and pediatric obesity. Articles studying the association between epigenetic mechanisms (including DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin and histones modification) and obesity and/or overweight (or any related anthropometric parameters) in children (0-18 years) were included. The risk of bias was assessed with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-randomized studies. One hundred twenty-one studies explored epigenetic changes related to childhood obesity. DNA methylation was the most widely investigated mechanism (N = 101 studies), followed by non-coding RNAs (N = 19 studies) with evidence suggestive of an association with childhood obesity for DNA methylation of specific genes and microRNAs (miRNAs). One study, focusing on histones modification, was identified. Heterogeneity of findings may have hindered more insights into the epigenetic changes related to childhood obesity. Gaps and challenges that future research should face are herein described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Alfano
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Medical Research Council-Health Protection Agency Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Oliver Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Medical Research Council-Health Protection Agency Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Evangelos Handakas
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Medical Research Council-Health Protection Agency Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Paolo Vineis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Medical Research Council-Health Protection Agency Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Unit of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Human Genetic Foundation (HuGeF), Turin, Italy
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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19
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Monasso GS, Jaddoe VWV, Küpers LK, Felix JF. Epigenetic age acceleration and cardiovascular outcomes in school-age children: The Generation R Study. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:205. [PMID: 34784966 PMCID: PMC8597298 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01193-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension and atherosclerosis may partly originate in early life. Altered epigenetic aging may be a mechanism underlying associations of early-life exposures and the development of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood. A discrepancy between chronological age and age predicted from neonatal DNA methylation data is referred to as age acceleration. It may either be positive, if DNA methylation age is older than clinical age, or negative, if DNA methylation age is younger than chronological age. We examined associations of age acceleration at birth ('gestational age acceleration'), and of age acceleration at school-age, with blood pressure and with intima-media thickness and distensibility of the common carotid artery, as markers of vascular structure and function, respectively, measured at age 10 years. RESULTS This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. We included 1115 children with information on cord blood DNA methylation and blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness or carotid distensibility. Gestational age acceleration was calculated using the Bohlin epigenetic clock, which was developed specifically for cord blood DNA methylation data. It predicts gestational age based on methylation levels of 96 CpGs from HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. We observed no associations of gestational age acceleration with blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness or carotid distensibility at age 10 years. In analyses among children with peripheral blood DNA methylation measured at age 6 (n = 470) and 10 (n = 449) years, we also observed no associations of age acceleration at these ages with the same cardiovascular outcomes, using the 'skin and blood clock,' which predicts age based on methylation levels at 391 CpGs from HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. CONCLUSIONS Our findings do not provide support for the hypothesis that altered epigenetic aging during the earliest phase of life is involved in the development of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta S Monasso
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leanne K Küpers
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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20
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Recent research efforts have provided compelling evidence of genome-wide DNA methylation alterations in pediatrics. It is currently well established that epigenetic clocks, composed of DNA methylation sites, can estimate the gestational and chronological age of cells and tissues from different ages. Also, extensive research is aimed at their correlation with early life exposure and pediatric diseases. This review aimed to systematically summarize the epigenetic clocks in the pediatric population. Publications were collected from PubMed and Web of Science databases up to Apr 2021. Epigenetic clocks, DNA methylation clocks, epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration, pediatric and the pediatric population were used as search criteria. Here, we first review the currently applicative pediatric epigenetic clocks. We then highlight the interpretation for epigenetic age deviations in the pediatric population and their association with external factors, developmental trajectories, and pediatric diseases. Considering the remaining unknown of pediatric clocks, research strategies into them are also discussed. In all, pediatric epigenetic clocks may act as potent tools to understand development, growth and diseases in early life.
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21
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Monasso GS, Küpers LK, Jaddoe VWV, Heil SG, Felix JF. Associations of circulating folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentrations in early pregnancy and cord blood with epigenetic gestational age: the Generation R Study. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:95. [PMID: 33926538 PMCID: PMC8082638 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01065-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentrations during fetal development have been associated with health outcomes in childhood. Changes in fetal DNA methylation may be an underlying mechanism. This may be reflected in altered epigenetic aging of the fetus, as compared to chronological aging. The difference between gestational age derived in clinical practice and gestational age predicted from neonatal DNA methylation data is referred to as gestational age acceleration. Differences in circulating folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentrations during fetal development may be associated with gestational age acceleration. RESULTS Up to 1346 newborns participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study, had both cord blood DNA methylation data available and information on plasma folate, serum total and active B12 and plasma homocysteine concentrations, measured in early pregnancy and/or in cord blood. A subgroup of 380 newborns had mothers with optimal pregnancy dating based on a regular menstrual cycle and a known date of last menstrual period. For comparison, gestational age acceleration was calculated based the method of both Bohlin and Knight. In the total study population, which was more similar to Bohlin's training population, one standard deviation score (SDS) higher maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations was nominally associated with positive gestational age acceleration [0.07 weeks, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02, 0.13] by Bohlin's method. In the subgroup with pregnancy dating based on last menstrual period, the method that was also used in Knight's training population, one SDS higher cord serum total and active B12 concentrations were nominally associated with negative gestational age acceleration [(- 0.16 weeks, 95% CI - 0.30, - 0.02) and (- 0.15 weeks, 95% CI - 0.29, - 0.01), respectively] by Knight's method. CONCLUSIONS We found some evidence to support associations of higher maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations with positive gestational age acceleration, suggesting faster epigenetic than clinical gestational aging. Cord serum vitamin B12 concentrations may be associated with negative gestational age acceleration, indicating slower epigenetic than clinical gestational aging. Future studies could examine whether altered fetal epigenetic aging underlies the associations of circulating homocysteine and vitamin B12 blood concentrations during fetal development with long-term health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta S Monasso
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leanne K Küpers
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra G Heil
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group (Na-2918), Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. .,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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22
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Dieckmann L, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, Kvist T, Lahti J, DeWitt PE, Cruceanu C, Laivuori H, Sammallahti S, Villa PM, Suomalainen-König S, Eriksson JG, Kajantie E, Raikkönen K, Binder EB, Czamara D. Characteristics of epigenetic aging across gestational and perinatal tissues. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:97. [PMID: 33926514 PMCID: PMC8082803 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01080-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic clocks have been used to indicate differences in biological states between individuals of same chronological age. However, so far, only few studies have examined epigenetic aging in newborns—especially regarding different gestational or perinatal tissues. In this study, we investigated which birth- and pregnancy-related variables are most important in predicting gestational epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration (i.e., the deviation between gestational epigenetic age estimated from the DNA methylome and chronological gestational age) in chorionic villus, placenta and cord blood tissues from two independent study cohorts (ITU, n = 639 and PREDO, n = 966). We further characterized the correspondence of epigenetic age deviations between these tissues. Results Among the most predictive factors of epigenetic age deviations in single tissues were child sex, birth length, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal mental disorders until childbirth, delivery mode and parity. However, the specific factors related to epigenetic age deviation and the direction of association differed across tissues. In individuals with samples available from more than one tissue, relative epigenetic age deviations were not correlated across tissues. Conclusion Gestational epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration was not related to more favorable or unfavorable factors in one direction in the investigated tissues, and the relative epigenetic age differed between tissues of the same person. This indicates that epigenetic age deviations associate with distinct, tissue specific, factors during the gestational and perinatal period. Our findings suggest that the epigenetic age of the newborn should be seen as a characteristic of a specific tissue, and less as a general characteristic of the child itself. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01080-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Dieckmann
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tuomas Kvist
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter E DeWitt
- Section of Informatics and Data Science, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cristiana Cruceanu
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Human Genetics, Helsinki, Finland.,Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sara Sammallahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pia M Villa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Hyvinkää Hospital, Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Hyvinkää, Finland
| | - Sanna Suomalainen-König
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eero Kajantie
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Katri Raikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany.
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