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Hwang YM, Roper RT, Piekos SN, Enquobahrie DA, Hebert MF, Paquette AG, Baloni P, Price ND, Hood L, Hadlock JJ. Timing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use and risk for preterm birth and related adverse events: with a consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic period. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2024; 37:2313364. [PMID: 38342572 PMCID: PMC11033706 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2024.2313364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is uncertainty around the safety of SSRIs for treating depression during pregnancy. Nevertheless, the use of SSRIs has been gradually increasing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period. We aimed to (1) characterize maternal depression rate and use of SSRIs in a recent 10-year period, (2) address confounding by indication, as well as socioeconomic and environmental factors, and (3) evaluate associations of the timing of SSRI exposure in pregnancy with risk for preterm birth (PTB), low birthweight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) infants among women with depression before pregnancy. METHODS We conducted propensity score-adjusted regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of PTB, LBW, and SGA. We accounted for maternal/pregnancy characteristics, comorbidity, depression severity, time of delivery, social vulnerability, and rural residence. RESULTS There were 50.3% and 40.3% increases in the prevalence rate of prenatal depression and prenatal SSRI prescription rate during the pandemic. We identified women with depression ≤180 days before pregnancy (n = 8406). Women with no SSRI order during pregnancy (n = 3760) constituted the unexposed group. The late SSRI exposure group consisted of women with an SSRI order after the first trimester (n = 3759). The early-only SSRI exposure group consisted of women with SSRI orders only in the first trimester (n = 887). The late SSRI exposure group had an increased risk of PTB of OR = 1.5 ([1.2,1.8]) and LBW of OR = 1.5 ([1.2,2.0]), relative to the unexposed group. Associations between late SSRI exposure and risk of PTB/LBW were similar among a subsample of patients who delivered during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest an association between PTB/LBW and SSRI exposure is dependent on exposure timing during pregnancy. Small for gestational age is not associated with SSRI exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon Mi Hwang
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ryan T. Roper
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
| | - Samantha N. Piekos
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
| | - Daniel A. Enquobahrie
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mary F. Hebert
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington USA
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Seattle, Washington USA
| | - Priyanka Baloni
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana USA
| | - Nathan D. Price
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
- Thorne HealthTech, New York, New York, USA
| | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
- Providence St. Joseph Health; Renton, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Hadlock
- Institute for Systems Biology; 401 Terry Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA 98109
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Baker BH, Melough MM, Paquette AG, Barrett ES, Day DB, Kannan K, Nguyen RHN, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Carroll KN, Swan SH, Zhao Q, Sathyanarayana S. Corrigendum to "Ultra-processed and fast food consumption, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, and socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures" [Environ. Int. 183 (2024) 108427]. Environ Int 2024; 186:108623. [PMID: 38582681 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Drew B Day
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA, USA
| | | | - Shanna H Swan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Baker BH, Freije S, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Benson C, Carroll KN, Enquobahrie DA, Karr CJ, LeWinn KZ, Zhao Q, Bush NR, Sathyanarayana S, Paquette AG. Placental transcriptomic signatures of prenatal and preconceptional maternal stress. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-023-02403-6. [PMID: 38212375 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal psychological stress is associated with increased risk for adverse birth and child health outcomes. Accumulating evidence suggests that preconceptional maternal stress may also be transmitted intergenerationally to negatively impact offspring. However, understanding of mechanisms linking these exposures to offspring outcomes, particularly those related to placenta, is limited. Using RNA sequencing, we identified placental transcriptomic signatures associated with maternal prenatal stressful life events (SLEs) and childhood traumatic events (CTEs) in 1 029 mother-child pairs in two birth cohorts from Washington state and Memphis, Tennessee. We evaluated individual gene-SLE/CTE associations and performed an ensemble of gene set enrichment analyses combing across 11 popular enrichment methods. Higher number of prenatal SLEs was significantly (FDR < 0.05) associated with increased expression of ADGRG6, a placental tissue-specific gene critical in placental remodeling, and decreased expression of RAB11FIP3, an endocytosis and endocytic recycling gene, and SMYD5, a histone methyltransferase. Prenatal SLEs and maternal CTEs were associated with gene sets related to several biological pathways, including upregulation of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, protein secretion, and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, and down regulation of ribosome, epithelial mesenchymal transition, DNA repair, MYC targets, and amino acid-related pathways. The directional associations in these pathways corroborate prior non-transcriptomic mechanistic studies of psychological stress and mental health disorders, and have previously been implicated in pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. Accordingly, our findings suggest that maternal exposure to psychosocial stressors during pregnancy as well as the mother's childhood may disrupt placental function, which may ultimately contribute to adverse pregnancy, birth, and child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Ciara Benson
- Global Alliance to Prevent Preterm Birth and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Lynnwood, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Baker BH, Melough MM, Paquette AG, Barrett ES, Day DB, Kannan K, Hn Nguyen R, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Carroll KN, Swan SH, Zhao Q, Sathyanarayana S. Ultra-processed and fast food consumption, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, and socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures. Environ Int 2024; 183:108427. [PMID: 38194756 PMCID: PMC10834835 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consuming ultra-processed foods may increase exposure to phthalates, a group of endocrine disruptors prevalent in food contact materials. OBJECTIVES Investigate associations between ultra-processed food intake and urinary phthalates during pregnancy, and evaluate whether ultra-processed foods mediate socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures. METHODS In a socioeconomically diverse sample of 1031 pregnant women from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Study in the urban South, the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire was administered and urinary phthalate metabolites were measured in the second trimester. Linear regressions modeled associations between phthalates and overall ultra-processed food consumption, individual ultra-processed foods, and exploratory factor analysis dietary patterns. Causal mediation analyses examined whether ultra-processed food intake mediates relationships between socioeconomic disparities and phthalate exposures. RESULTS Ultra-processed foods constituted 9.8-59.0 % (mean = 38.6 %) of participants' diets. 10 % higher dietary proportion of ultra-processed foods was associated with 13.1 % (95 %CI: 3.4 %-22.9 %) higher molar sum concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP). 10 % higher consumption of minimally-processed foods was associated with lower ΣDEHP (10.8 %: 3.4 %-22.9 %). Ultra- and minimally-processed food consumption were not associated with non-DEHP metabolites. Standard deviation higher consumptions of hamburger/cheeseburger, French fries, soda, and cake were associated with 10.5 % (4.2 %-17.1 %), 9.2 % (2.6 %-16.2 %), 7.4 % (1.4 %-13.6 %), and 6.0 % (0.0 %-12.4 %), respectively, higher ΣDEHP. Exploratory factor analysis corroborated positive associations of processed food with ΣDEHP, and uncovered a healthy dietary pattern associated with lower urinary ΣDEHP, mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) (MECPP), mono(2-carboxymethylhexyl) (MCMHP), and mono-isononyl (MINP) phthalates. Significant indirect effects indicated that lower income and education levels were associated with 1.9 % (0.2 %-4.2 %) and 1.4 % (0.1 %-3.3 %) higher ΣDEHP, respectively, mediated via increased ultra-processed food consumption. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of ultra-processed foods may increase exposure to phthalates. Policies to reduce dietary phthalate exposures from food packaging and processing are needed, as socioeconomic barriers can preclude dietary recommendations as a sole means to reduce phthalate exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Drew B Day
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Shanna H Swan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Elkin ER, Campbell KA, Lapehn S, Harris SM, Padmanabhan V, Bakulski KM, Paquette AG. Placental single cell transcriptomics: Opportunities for endocrine disrupting chemical toxicology. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023; 578:112066. [PMID: 37690473 PMCID: PMC10591899 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The placenta performs essential biologic functions for fetal development throughout pregnancy. Placental dysfunction is at the root of multiple adverse birth outcomes such as intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during pregnancy can cause placental dysfunction, and many prior human studies have examined molecular changes in bulk placental tissues. Placenta-specific cell types, including cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, and placental resident macrophage Hofbauer cells play unique roles in placental development, structure, and function. Toxicant-induced changes in relative abundance and/or impairment of these cell types likely contribute to placental pathogenesis. Although gene expression insights gained from bulk placental tissue RNA-sequencing data are useful, their interpretation is limited because bulk analysis can mask the effects of a chemical on individual populations of placental cells. Cutting-edge single cell RNA-sequencing technologies are enabling the investigation of placental cell-type specific responses to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Moreover, in situ bioinformatic cell deconvolution enables the estimation of cell type proportions in bulk placental tissue gene expression data. These emerging technologies have tremendous potential to provide novel mechanistic insights in a complex heterogeneous tissue with implications for toxicant contributions to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elana R Elkin
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Kyle A Campbell
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sean M Harris
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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6
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Hussey MR, Enquobahrie DA, Loftus CT, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Paquette AG, Marsit CJ, Szpiro AA, Kaufman JD, LeWinn KZ, Bush NR, Tylavsky F, Zhao Q, Karr CJ, Sathyanarayana S. Associations of prenatal exposure to NO 2 and near roadway residence with placental gene expression. Placenta 2023; 138:75-82. [PMID: 37216796 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), a common exposure, potentially impacts pregnancy through altered placental function. We investigated associations between prenatal TRAP exposure and placental gene expression. METHODS Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on placental samples from CANDLE (Memphis, TN) (n = 776) and GAPPS (Seattle and Yakima, WA) (n = 205), cohorts of the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium. Residential NO2 exposures were computed via spatiotemporal models for full-pregnancy, each trimester, and the first/last months of pregnancy. Individual cohort-specific, covariate-adjusted linear models were fit for 10,855 genes and respective exposures (NO2 or roadway proximity [≤150 m]). Infant-sex/exposure interactions on placental gene expression were tested with interaction terms in separate models. Significance was based on false discovery rate (FDR<0.10). RESULTS In GAPPS, final-month NO2 exposure was positively associated with MAP1LC3C expression (FDR p-value = 0.094). Infant-sex interacted with second-trimester NO2 on STRIP2 expression (FDR interaction p-value = 0.011, inverse and positive associations among male and female infants, respectively) and roadway proximity on CEBPA expression (FDR interaction p-value = 0.045, inverse among females). In CANDLE, infant-sex interacted with first-trimester and full-pregnancy NO2 on RASSF7 expression (FDR interaction p-values = 0.067 and 0.013, respectively, positive among male infants and inverse among female infants). DISCUSSION Overall, pregnancy NO2 exposure and placental gene expression associations were primarily null, with exception of final month NO2 exposure and placental MAP1LC3C association. We found several interactions of infant sex and TRAP exposures on placental expression of STRIP2, CEBPA, and RASSF7. These highlighted genes suggest influence of TRAP on placental cell proliferation, autophagy, and growth, though additional replication and functional studies are required for validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Hussey
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Daniel A Enquobahrie
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James W MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Theo K Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adam A Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joel D Kaufman
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San, Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Frances Tylavsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Correia-Branco A, Mei A, Pillai S, Jayaraman N, Sharma R, Paquette AG, Neradugomma NK, Benson C, Chavkin NW, Mao Q, Wallingford MC. SLC20a1/PiT-1 is required for chorioallantoic placental morphogenesis. Vasc Biol 2023; 5:e220018. [PMID: 36795703 PMCID: PMC10160536 DOI: 10.1530/vb-22-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The placenta mediates the transport of nutrients, such as inorganic phosphate (Pi), between the maternal and fetal circulatory systems. The placenta itself also requires high levels of nutrient uptake as it develops to provide critical support for fetal development. This study aimed to determine placental Pi transport mechanisms using in vitro and in vivo models. We observed that Pi (P33) uptake in BeWo cells is sodium dependent and that SLC20A1/Slc20a1 is the most highly expressed placental sodium-dependent transporter in mouse (microarray), human cell line (RT-PCR) and term placenta (RNA-seq), supporting that normal growth and maintenance of the mouse and human placenta requires SLC20A1/Slc20a1. Slc20a1 wild-type (Slc20a1+/+) and knockout (Slc20a1-/-) mice were produced through timed intercrosses and displayed yolk sac angiogenesis failure as expected at E10.5. E9.5 tissues were analyzed to test whether placental morphogenesis requires Slc20a1. At E9.5, the developing placenta was reduced in size in Slc20a1-/-. Multiple structural abnormalities were also observed in the Slc20a1-/-chorioallantois. We determined that monocarboxylate transporter 1 protein (MCT1+) cells were reduced in developing Slc20a1-/-placenta, confirming that Slc20a1 loss reduced trophoblast syncytiotrophoblast 1 (SynT-I) coverage. Next, we examined the cell type-specific Slc20a1 expression and SynT molecular pathways in silico and identified Notch/Wnt as a pathway of interest that regulates trophoblast differentiation. We further observed that specific trophoblast lineages express Notch/Wnt genes that associate with endothelial cell tip-and-stalk cell markers. In conclusion, our findings support that Slc20a1 mediates the symport of Pi into SynT cells, providing critical support for their differentiation and angiogenic mimicry function at the developing maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Correia-Branco
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ariel Mei
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sreehari Pillai
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nirmala Jayaraman
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Radhika Sharma
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Naveen K Neradugomma
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ciara Benson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicholas W Chavkin
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Qingcheng Mao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mary C Wallingford
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Lapehn S, Houghtaling S, Ahuna K, Kadam L, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, LeWinn KZ, Myatt L, Sathyanarayana S, Paquette AG. Mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces transcriptomic changes in placental cells based on concentration, fetal sex, and trophoblast cell type. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:831-847. [PMID: 36695872 PMCID: PMC9968694 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03444-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are ubiquitous plasticizer chemicals found in consumer products. Exposure to phthalates during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes and differences in placental gene expression in human studies. The objective of this research was to evaluate global changes in placental gene expression via RNA sequencing in two placental cell models following exposure to the phthalate metabolite mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP). HTR-8/SVneo and primary syncytiotrophoblast cells were exposed to three concentrations (1, 90, 180 µM) of MEHP for 24 h with DMSO (0.1%) as a vehicle control. mRNA and lncRNAs were quantified using paired-end RNA sequencing, followed by identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), significant KEGG pathways, and enriched transcription factors (TFs). MEHP caused gene expression changes across all concentrations for HTR-8/SVneo and primary syncytiotrophoblast cells. Sex-stratified analysis of primary cells identified different patterns of sensitivity in response to MEHP dose by sex, with male placentas being more responsive to MEHP exposure. Pathway analysis identified 11 KEGG pathways significantly associated with at least one concentration in both cell types. Four ligand-inducible nuclear hormone TFs (PPARG, PPARD, ESR1, AR) were enriched in at least three treatment groups. Overall, we demonstrated that MEHP differentially affects placental gene expression based on concentration, fetal sex, and trophoblast cell type. This study confirms prior studies, as enrichment of nuclear hormone receptor TFs were concordant with previously published mechanisms of phthalate disruption, and generates new hypotheses, as we identified many pathways and genes not previously linked to phthalate exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 1900 9th Ave, Jack R. MacDonald Building, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Scott Houghtaling
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 1900 9th Ave, Jack R. MacDonald Building, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Kylia Ahuna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Leena Kadam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - James W. MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Theo K. Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Kaja Z. LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Leslie Myatt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 1900 9th Ave, Jack R. MacDonald Building, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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9
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Paquette AG, Lapehn S, Freije S, MacDonald J, Bammler T, Day DB, Loftus CT, Kannan K, Alex Mason W, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Enquobahrie DA, Marsit C, Sathyanarayana S. Placental transcriptomic signatures of prenatal exposure to Hydroxy-Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Int 2023; 172:107763. [PMID: 36689866 PMCID: PMC10211546 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants originating from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. PAH compounds can cross the placenta, and prenatal PAH exposure is linked to adverse infant and childhood health outcomes. OBJECTIVE In this first human transcriptomic assessment of PAHs in the placenta, we examined associations between prenatal PAH exposure and placental gene expression to gain insight into mechanisms by which PAHs may disrupt placental function. METHODS The ECHO PATHWAYS Consortium quantified prenatal PAH exposure and the placental transcriptome from 629 pregnant participants enrolled in the CANDLE study. Concentrations of 12 monohydroxy-PAH (OH-PAH) metabolites were measured in mid-pregnancy urine using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Placental transcriptomic data were obtained using paired-end RNA sequencing. Linear models were fitted to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between maternal urinary OH-PAHs and placental gene expression. We performed sex-stratified analyses to evaluate whether associations varied by fetal sex. Selected PAH/gene expression analyses were validated by treating HTR-8/SVneo cells with phenanthrene, and quantifying expression via qPCR. RESULTS Urinary concentrations of 6 OH-PAHs were associated with placental expression of 8 genes. Three biological pathways were associated with 4 OH-PAHs. Placental expression of SGF29 and TRIP13 as well as the vitamin digestion and absorption pathway were positively associated with multiple metabolites. HTR-8/SVneo cells treated with phenanthrene also exhibited 23 % increased TRIP13 expression compared to vehicle controls (p = 0.04). Fetal sex may modify the relationship between prenatal OH-PAHs and placental gene expression, as more associations were identified in females than males (45 vs 28 associations). DISCUSSION Our study highlights novel genes whose placental expression may be disrupted by OH-PAHs. Increased expression of DNA damage repair gene TRIP13 may represent a response to double-stranded DNA breaks. Increased expression of genes involved in vitamin digestion and metabolism may reflect dietary exposures or represent a compensatory mechanism to combat damage related to OH-PAH toxicity. Further work is needed to study the role of these genes in placental function and their links to perinatal outcomes and lifelong health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - Drew B Day
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - W Alex Mason
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA, USA
| | | | | | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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10
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Paquette AG, MacDonald J, Bammler T, Day DB, Loftus CT, Buth E, Mason WA, Bush NR, Lewinn KZ, Marsit C, Litch JA, Gravett M, Enquobahrie DA, Sathyanarayana S. Placental transcriptomic signatures of spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 228:73.e1-73.e18. [PMID: 35868418 PMCID: PMC9790028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spontaneous preterm birth accounts for most preterm births and leads to significant morbidity in the newborn and childhood period. This subtype of preterm birth represents an increasing proportion of all preterm births when compared with medically indicated preterm birth, yet it is understudied in omics analyses. The placenta is a key regulator of fetal and newborn health, and the placental transcriptome can provide insight into pathologic changes that lead to spontaneous preterm birth. OBJECTIVE This analysis aimed to identify genes for which placental expression was associated with spontaneous preterm birth (including early preterm and late preterm birth). STUDY DESIGN The ECHO PATHWAYS consortium extracted RNA from placental samples collected from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood and the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth studies. Placental transcriptomic data were obtained by RNA sequencing. Linear models were fit to estimate differences in placental gene expression between term birth and spontaneous preterm birth (including gestational age subgroups defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Models were adjusted for numerous confounding variables, including labor status, cohort, and RNA sequencing batch. This analysis excluded patients with induced labor, chorioamnionitis, multifetal gestations, or medical indications for preterm birth. Our combined cohort contained gene expression data for 14,023 genes in 48 preterm and 540 term samples. Genes and pathways were considered statistically significantly different at false discovery rate-adjusted P value of <.05. RESULTS In total, we identified 1728 genes for which placental expression was associated with spontaneous preterm birth with more differences in expression in early preterm samples than late preterm samples when compared with full-term samples. Of those, 9 genes were significantly decreased in both early and late spontaneous preterm birth, and the strongest associations involved placental expression of IL1B, ALPL, and CRLF1. In early and late preterm samples, we observed decreased expression of genes involved in immune signaling, signal transduction, and endocrine function. CONCLUSION This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the differences in the placental transcriptome associated with spontaneous preterm birth with robust adjustment for confounding. Results of this study are in alignment with the known etiology of spontaneous preterm birth, because we identified multiple genes and pathways for which the placental and chorioamniotic membrane expression was previously associated with prematurity, including IL1B. We identified decreased expression in key signaling pathways that are essential for placental growth and function, which may be related to the etiology of spontaneous preterm birth. We identified increased expression of genes within metabolic pathways associated exclusively with early preterm birth. These signaling and metabolic pathways may provide clinically targetable pathways and biomarkers. The findings presented here can be used to understand underlying pathologic changes in premature placentas, which can inform and improve clinical obstetrics practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
| | - James MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Theo Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Drew B Day
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Erin Buth
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - W Alex Mason
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Department of Pediatrics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kaja Z Lewinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Carmen Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - James A Litch
- Global Alliance to Prevent Preterm Birth and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Lynnwood, WA
| | - Michael Gravett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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11
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Enquobahrie DA, MacDonald J, Hussey M, Bammler TK, Loftus CT, Paquette AG, Byington N, Marsit CJ, Szpiro A, Kaufman JD, LeWinn KZ, Bush NR, Tylavsky F, Karr CJ, Sathyanarayana S. Prenatal exposure to particulate matter and placental gene expression. Environ Int 2022; 165:107310. [PMID: 35653832 PMCID: PMC9235522 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While strong evidence supports adverse maternal and offspring consequences of air pollution, mechanisms that involve the placenta, a key part of the intrauterine environment, are largely unknown. Previous studies of air pollution and placental gene expression were small candidate gene studies that rarely considered prenatal windows of exposure or the potential role of offspring sex. We examined overall and sex-specific associations of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with genome-wide placental gene expression. METHODS Participants with placenta samples, collected at birth, and childhood health outcomes from CANDLE (Memphis, TN) (n = 776) and GAPPS (Seattle, WA) (n = 205) cohorts of the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium were included in this study. PM2.5 exposures during trimesters 1, 2, 3, and the first and last months of pregnancy, were estimated using a spatiotemporal model. Cohort-specific linear adjusted models were fit for each exposure window and expression of >11,000 protein coding genes from paired end RNA sequencing data. Models with interaction terms were used to examine PM2.5-offspring sex interactions. False discovery rate (FDR < 0.10) was used to correct for multiple testing. RESULTS Mean PM2.5 estimate was 10.5-10.7 μg/m3 for CANDLE and 6.0-6.3 μg/m3 for GAPPS participants. In CANDLE, expression of 13 (11 upregulated and 2 downregulated), 20 (11 upregulated and 9 downregulated) and 3 (2 upregulated and 1 downregulated) genes was associated with PM2.5 in the first trimester, second trimester, and first month, respectively. While we did not find any statistically significant association, overall, between PM2.5 and gene expression in GAPPS, we found offspring sex and first month PM2.5 interaction for DDHD1 expression (positive association among males and inverse association among females). We did not observe PM2.5 and offspring sex interactions in CANDLE. CONCLUSION In CANDLE, but not GAPPS, we found that prenatal PM2.5 exposure during the first half of pregnancy is associated with placental gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Enquobahrie
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
| | - James MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael Hussey
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Theo K Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nora Byington
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Adam Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Joel D Kaufman
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frances Tylavsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
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Lapehn S, Paquette AG. The Placental Epigenome as a Molecular Link Between Prenatal Exposures and Fetal Health Outcomes Through the DOHaD Hypothesis. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:490-501. [PMID: 35488174 PMCID: PMC9363315 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that the perinatal environment can impact fetal and later life health. The placenta is uniquely situated to assess prenatal exposures in the context of DOHaD because it is an essential ephemeral fetal organ that manages the transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and endocrine signals between the mother and fetus. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that evaluated the DOHaD hypothesis in human placentas using epigenomics, including DNA methylation and transcriptomic studies of mRNA, lncRNA, and microRNAs. Recent Findings Between 2016 and 2021, 28 articles evaluated associations between prenatal exposures and placental epigenomics across broad exposure categories including maternal smoking, psychosocial stressors, chemicals, air pollution, and metals. Sixteen of these studies connected exposures to health outcome such as birth weight, fetal growth, or infant neurobehavior through mediation analysis, identification of shared associations between exposure and outcome, or network analysis. These aspects of infant and childhood health serve as a foundation for future studies that aim to use placental epigenetics to understand relationships between the prenatal environment and perinatal complications (such as preterm birth or fetal growth restriction) or later life childhood health. Summary Placental DNA methylation and RNA expression have been linked to numerous prenatal exposures, such as PM2.5 air pollution, metals, and maternal smoking, as well as infant and childhood health outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight. Placental epigenomics provides a unique opportunity to expand the DOHaD premise, particularly if research applies novel methodologies such as multi-omics analysis, sequencing of non-coding RNAs, mixtures analysis, and assessment of health outcomes beyond early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lapehn
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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Paquette AG, MacDonald J, Lapehn S, Bammler T, Kruger L, Day DB, Price ND, Loftus C, Kannan K, Marsit C, Mason WA, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Enquobahrie DA, Prasad B, Karr CJ, Sathyanarayana S. A Comprehensive Assessment of Associations between Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and the Placental Transcriptomic Landscape. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:97003. [PMID: 34478338 PMCID: PMC8415559 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalates are commonly used endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are ubiquitous in the general population. Prenatal phthalate exposure may alter placental physiology and fetal development, leading to adverse perinatal and childhood health outcomes. OBJECTIVE We examined associations between prenatal phthalate exposure in the second and third trimesters and the placental transcriptome at birth, including genes and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), to gain insight into potential mechanisms of action during fetal development. METHODS The ECHO PATHWAYs consortium quantified 21 urinary phthalate metabolites from 760 women enrolled in the CANDLE study (Shelby County, TN) using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Placental transcriptomic data were obtained using paired-end RNA sequencing. Linear models were fitted to estimate separate associations between maternal urinary phthalate metabolite concentration during the second and third trimester and placental gene expression at birth, adjusted for confounding variables. Genes were considered differentially expressed at a Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) p<0.05. Associations between phthalate metabolites and biological pathways were identified using self-contained gene set testing and considered significantly altered with an FDR-adjusted p<0.2. RESULTS We observed significant associations between second-trimester phthalate metabolites mono (carboxyisooctyl) phthalate (MCIOP), mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate, and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate and 18 genes in total, including four lncRNAs. Specifically, placental expression of NEAT1 was associated with multiple phthalate metabolites. Third-trimester MCIOP and mono-isobutyl phthalate concentrations were significantly associated with placental expression of 18 genes and two genes, respectively. Expression of genes within 27 biological pathways was associated with mono-methyl phthalate, MCIOP, and monoethyl phthalate concentrations. DISCUSSION To our knowledge, this is the first genome-wide assessment of the relationship between the placental transcriptome at birth and prenatal phthalate exposure in a large and diverse birth cohort. We identified numerous genes and lncRNAs associated with prenatal phthalate exposure. These associations mirror findings from other epidemiological and in vitro analyses and may provide insight into biological pathways affected in utero by phthalate exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8973.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G. Paquette
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Samantha Lapehn
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theo Bammler
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laken Kruger
- Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Drew B. Day
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nathan D. Price
- Institute For Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Onegevity Health, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - W. Alex Mason
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nicole R. Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco California, USA
| | - Kaja Z. LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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14
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Paquette AG, Hood L, Price ND, Sadovsky Y. Deep phenotyping during pregnancy for predictive and preventive medicine. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/527/eaay1059. [PMID: 31969484 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Deep phenotyping during pregnancy offers an opportunity to define the antecedents of lifelong health and wellness, and to improve pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Yoel Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute and Departments of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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15
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Paquette AG, Shynlova O, Wu X, Kibschull M, Wang K, Price ND, Lye SJ. MicroRNA-transcriptome networks in whole blood and monocytes of women undergoing preterm labour. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:6835-6845. [PMID: 31342622 PMCID: PMC6787570 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is attributed to neonatal morbidity as well as cognitive and physiological challenges. We have previously identified significant differences in mRNA expression in whole blood and monocytes, as well as differences in miRNA concentration in blood plasma, extracellular vesicles (EV) and EV-depleted plasma in women undergoing spontaneous preterm labour (sPTL). The goal of this analysis was to identify differences in miRNA expression within whole blood (WB) and peripheral monocytes (PM) from the same population of women undergoing sPTL compared with non-labouring controls matched by gestational age. We performed single-end small RNA sequencing in whole blood and peripheral monocytes from women undergoing sPTL with active contractions (24-34 weeks of gestation, N = 15) matched for gestational age to healthy pregnant non-labouring controls (>37 weeks gestation, N = 30) who later delivered at term as a part of the Ontario Birth Study (Toronto, Ontario CA). We identified significant differences in expression of 16 miRNAs in PMs and nine miRNAs in WB in women undergoing sPTL. In PMs, these miRNAs were predicted targets of 541 genes, including 28 previously associated with sPTL. In WB, miRNAs were predicted to target 303 genes, including nine previously associated with sPTL. These genes were involved in a variety of immune pathways, including interleukin-2 signalling. This study is the first to identify changes in miRNA expression in WB and PMs of women undergoing sPTL. Our results shed light on potential mechanisms by which miRNAs may play a role in mediating systemic inflammatory response in pregnant women that deliver prematurely.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oksana Shynlova
- Program in Development and Fetal HealthLunenfeld‐Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health SystemTorontoONCanada
| | | | - Mark Kibschull
- Program in Development and Fetal HealthLunenfeld‐Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health SystemTorontoONCanada
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute for Systems BiologySeattleWAUSA
| | | | - Stephen J. Lye
- Program in Development and Fetal HealthLunenfeld‐Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health SystemTorontoONCanada
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Paquette AG, Brockway HM, Price ND, Muglia LJ. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of human placentae at term and preterm delivery. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:89-101. [PMID: 29228154 PMCID: PMC5803773 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth affects 1 out of every 10 infants in the United States, resulting in substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are few predictive markers and few treatment options to prevent preterm birth. A healthy, functioning placenta is essential to positive pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies have suggested that placental pathology may play a role in preterm birth etiology. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that preterm placentae may exhibit unique transcriptomic signatures compared to term samples reflective of their abnormal biology leading to this adverse outcome. We aggregated publicly available placental villous microarray data to generate a preterm and term sample dataset (n = 133, 55 preterm placentae and 78 normal term placentae). We identified differentially expressed genes using the linear regression for microarray (LIMMA) package and identified perturbations in known biological networks using Differential Rank Conservation (DIRAC). We identified 129 significantly differentially expressed genes between term and preterm placenta with 96 genes upregulated and 33 genes downregulated (P-value <0.05). Significant changes in gene expression in molecular networks related to Tumor Protein 53 and phosphatidylinositol signaling were identified using DIRAC. We have aggregated a uniformly normalized transcriptomic dataset and have identified novel and established genes and pathways associated with developmental regulation of the placenta and potential preterm birth pathology. These analyses provide a community resource to integrate with other high-dimensional datasets for additional insights in normal placental development and its disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather M Brockway
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's, Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Cincinnati Children's, Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Paquette AG, Chu T, Wu X, Wang K, Price ND, Sadovsky Y. Distinct communication patterns of trophoblastic miRNA among the maternal-placental-fetal compartments. Placenta 2018; 72-73:28-35. [PMID: 30501878 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The placenta produces microRNAs (miRNA) that may traffic to the maternal or fetal compartments and influence the physiology of pregnancy. The trafficking patterns of miRNA expressed from the large human chromosome 19 and chromosome 14 clusters (C19MC and C14MC), remains unclear. We interrogated the cross-sectional landscape of miRNA expression within the human placenta, fetal and maternal plasma to elucidate miRNA trafficking. We hypothesized that C19MC and C14MC miRNAs have similar expression patterns across the maternal-fetal compartments. METHODS Placental biopsies, maternal and fetal venous plasma were collected from 25 pregnancies, and RNA was quantified using next generation sequencing. We identified expression and correlations differences among the compartments, and uncovered distinct miRNA expression patterns using consensus clustering. RESULTS We found that the placenta exhibits the highest total abundance, average miRNA expression and lowest variance of both C19MC and C14MC miRNAs. The C19MC miRNAs had a comparable expression and variance in fetal and maternal plasma and higher expression in the placenta. In contrast, the C14MC miRNAs had comparable expression between the placenta and fetal plasma, which was higher than the maternal plasma. We also identified 5 distinct groups of trophoblastic miRNAs with different expression patterns in each compartment. DISCUSSION This is the first comprehensive analysis of C19MC and C14MC miRNA expression patterns in the human placental, maternal and fetal compartments. Our findings suggest that C14MC miRNAs are produced by both the fetus and placenta, but C19MC miRNAs are produced primarily in the placenta and are trafficked to the fetal and maternal compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianjiao Chu
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98119, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98119, USA
| | | | - Yoel Sadovsky
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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Paquette AG, Shynlova O, Kibschull M, Price ND, Lye SJ. Comparative analysis of gene expression in maternal peripheral blood and monocytes during spontaneous preterm labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218:345.e1-345.e30. [PMID: 29305255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.12.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide, and is associated with significant cognitive and physiological challenges in later life. There is a pressing need to define the mechanisms that initiate spontaneous preterm labor, and for development of novel clinical biomarkers to identify high-risk pregnancies. Most preterm birth studies utilize fetal tissues, and there is limited understanding of the transcriptional changes that occur in mothers undergoing spontaneous preterm labor. Earlier work revealed that a specific population of maternal peripheral leukocytes (macrophages/monocytes) play an active role in the initiation of labor. Thus, we hypothesized that there are dynamic gene expression changes in maternal blood leukocytes during preterm labor. OBJECTIVE Using next-generation sequencing we aim to characterize the transcriptome in whole blood leukocytes and peripheral monocytes of women undergoing spontaneous preterm labor compared to healthy pregnant women who subsequently delivered at full term. STUDY DESIGN RNA sequencing was performed in both whole blood and peripheral monocytes from women who underwent preterm labor (24-34 weeks of gestation, N = 20) matched for gestational age to healthy pregnant controls (N = 30). All participants were a part of the Ontario Birth Study cohort (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). RESULTS We identified significant differences in expression of 262 genes in peripheral monocytes and 184 genes in whole blood of women who were in active spontaneous preterm labor compared to pregnant women of the same gestational age not undergoing labor, with 43 of these genes differentially expressed in both whole blood and peripheral monocytes. ADAMTS2 expression was significantly increased in women actively undergoing spontaneous preterm labor, which we validated through digital droplet reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Intriguingly, we have also identified a number of gene sets including signaling by stem cell factor-KIT, nucleotide metabolism, and trans-Golgi network vesicle budding, which exhibited changes in relative gene expression that was predictive of preterm labor status in both maternal whole blood and peripheral monocytes. CONCLUSION This study is the first to investigate changes in both whole blood leukocytes and peripheral monocytes of women actively undergoing spontaneous preterm labor through robust transcript measurements from RNA sequencing. Our unique study design overcame confounding based on gestational age by collecting blood samples from women matched by gestational age, allowing us to study transcriptomic changes directly related to the active preterm parturition. We performed RNA profiling using whole genome sequencing, which is highly sensitive and allowed us to identify subtle changes in specific genes. ADAMTS2 expression emerged as a marker of prematurity within peripheral blood leukocytes, an accessible tissue that plays a functional role in signaling during the onset of labor. We identified changes in relative gene expression in a number of gene sets related to signaling in monocytes and whole blood of women undergoing spontaneous preterm labor compared to controls. These genes and pathways may help identify potential targets for the development of novel drugs for preterm birth prevention.
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Appleton AA, Murphy MA, Koestler DC, Lesseur C, Paquette AG, Padbury JF, Lester BM, Marsit CJ. Prenatal Programming of Infant Neurobehaviour in a Healthy Population. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2016; 30:367-75. [PMID: 27004434 PMCID: PMC5054721 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying the prenatal origins of mental conditions is of increasing interest, yet most studies have focused on high-risk populations and cannot disentangle prenatal and postnatal programming effects. Thus, we examined whether profiles of neurobehaviour indicative of future risk could be identified in healthy 1-3-day-old infants, and examined associations with perinatal risk factors. METHODS Participants included 627 healthy mothers and term infants from a population-based US cohort. Neurobehaviour was assessed within 24-72 h after delivery with the NICU Network Neurobehavioural Scales (NNNS). A model-based clustering algorithm was used to derive neurobehavioural profiles from NNNS scores. Maternal health histories, pregnancy conditions and behaviours, labour/delivery factors, and infant attributes were examined in relation to the neurobehavioural profiles. RESULTS Seven discrete neurobehavioural profiles were identified, including one average functioning profile, and two inversely patterned below and above average profiles. Higher pregnancy weight gain (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10, 1.88) and birthweight percentiles (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.10, 1.95) were associated with greater odds of below average newborn neurobehaviour. Above average neurobehaviour was associated with experiencing longer gestations (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02, 1.64) and higher 5-min APGAR scores (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.07, 5.52). Maternal pregnancy alcohol use (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33, 0.89), and fetal distress (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01, 0.72) were associated with lower likelihood of having average neurobehaviour. CONCLUSION Distinct profiles of neurobehaviour can be derived in a healthy population of newborns, with different sets of perinatal factors predicting different patterns of neurobehaviour. These findings suggest a potential in utero origin for mental health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A. Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY
| | - Megan A. Murphy
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
| | - Devin C. Koestler
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
| | - James F. Padbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Barry M. Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI,Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Brown Alpert Medical School and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
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Paquette AG, Houseman EA, Green BB, Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Lester B, Marsit CJ. Regions of variable DNA methylation in human placenta associated with newborn neurobehavior. Epigenetics 2016; 11:603-13. [PMID: 27366929 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2016.1195534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta regulates the in utero environment and functionally impacts fetal development. Candidate gene studies identified variation in placental DNA methylation is associated with newborn neurologic and behavioral outcomes including movement quality, lethargic behavior, attention, and arousal. We sought to identify novel regions of variable DNA methylation associated with newborn attention, lethargy, quality of movement, and arousal by performing an epigenome-wide association study in 335 infants from a US birth cohort. Methylation status was quantified using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array and associations to newborn outcomes assessed by the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS) were identified while incorporating established bioinformatics algorithms to control for confounding by cell type composition. Methylation of CpGs within FHIT (cg15970800) and ANKRD11 (cg16710656) demonstrated genome-wide significance (P < 1.8 × 10(-7)) in specific associations with infant attention. CpGs whose differential methylation was associated with all 4 neurobehavioral outcomes were common to 50 genes involved in biological processes relating to cellular adhesion and nervous system development. Comprehensive methylation profiling identified relationships between methylation of FHIT and ANKRD11, which have been previously linked to neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes in genetic association studies. Subtle changes in DNA methylation of these genes within the placenta may impact normal variation of a newborn's ability to alter and track visual and auditory stimuli. Gene ontology analysis suggested that those genes with variable methylation related to these outcomes are over-represented in biological pathways involved in brain development and placental physiology, supportive of our hypothesis for a key role of the placenta in neurobehavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Hanover , NH , USA
| | - E Andres Houseman
- b School of Biological and Population Health Sciences , College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University , Corvallis , OR , USA
| | - Benjamin B Green
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Hanover , NH , USA
| | - Corina Lesseur
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Hanover , NH , USA
| | - David A Armstrong
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Hanover , NH , USA
| | - Barry Lester
- c Department of Pediatrics , Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence , RI , USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Hanover , NH , USA.,d Department of Epidemiology , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College , Lebanon , NH , USA
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Paquette AG, Lester BM, Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Guerin DJ, Appleton AA, Marsit CJ. Placental epigenetic patterning of glucocorticoid response genes is associated with infant neurodevelopment. Epigenomics 2015; 7:767-79. [PMID: 26343289 DOI: 10.2217/epi.15.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To determine associations between methylation of NR3C1, HSD11B2, FKBP5 and ADCYAP1R1 and newborn neurobehavioral outcomes. METHODS In 537 newborns, placental methylation was quantified using bisulfite pyrosequencing. Profiles of neurobehavior were derived via the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scales. Using exploratory factor analysis, the relationships between methylation factor scores and neurobehavioral profiles were examined. RESULTS Increased scores of the factor characterized by NR3C1 methylation were associated with membership in a reactive, poorly regulated profile (odds ratio: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.00-2.18), while increased scores of the factor characterized by HSD11B2 methylation reduced this risk. CONCLUSION These results suggest that coordinated regulation of these genes influences neurobehavior and demonstrates the importance of examining these alterations in a harmonized fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Barry M Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women & Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - David A Armstrong
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Dylan J Guerin
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Allison A Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
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Paquette AG, Marsit CJ. The developmental basis of epigenetic regulation of HTR2A and psychiatric outcomes. J Cell Biochem 2015; 115:2065-72. [PMID: 25043477 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin receptor 5-HT2A (encoded by HTR2A) is an important regulator of fetal brain development and adult cognitive function. Environmental signals that induce epigenetic changes of serotonin response genes, including HTR2A, have been implicated in adverse mental health outcomes. The objective of this perspective article is to address the medical implications of HTR2A epigenetic regulation, which has been associated with both infant neurobehavioral outcomes and adult mental health. Ongoing research has identified a region of the HTR2A promoter that has been associated with a number of medical outcomes in adults and infants, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, borderline personality disorder, suicidality, and neurobehavioral outcomes. Epigenetic regulation of HTR2A has been studied in several different types of tissues, including the placenta. The placenta is an important source of serotonin during fetal neurodevelopment, and placental epigenetic variation of HTR2A has been associated with infant neurobehavioral outcomes, which may represent the basis of adult mental health disorders. Further analysis is needed to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors that modulate HTR2A methylation, and the mechanism by which this epigenetic variation influences fetal growth and leads to altered brain development, manifesting in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
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Green BB, Armstrong DA, Lesseur C, Paquette AG, Guerin DJ, Kwan LE, Marsit CJ. The Role of Placental 11-Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 and Type 2 Methylation on Gene Expression and Infant Birth Weight. Biol Reprod 2015; 92:149. [PMID: 25788665 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.128066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal stress has been linked to infant birth weight outcomes, which itself may be associated with health later in life. The placenta acts as a master regulator for the fetal environment, mediating intrauterine exposures to stress through the activity of genes regulating glucocorticoids, including the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B) type 1 and 2 genes, and so we hypothesized that variation in these genes will be associated with infant birth weight. We investigated DNA methylation levels at six sites across the two genes, as well as mRNA expression for each, and the relationship to infant birth weight. Logistic regressions correcting for potential confounding factors revealed a significant association between methylation at a single CpG site within HSD11B1 and being born large for gestational age. In addition, our analysis identified correlations between methylation and gene expression, including sex-specific transcriptional regulation of HSD11B2. Our work is one of the first comprehensive views of DNA methylation and expression in the placenta for both HSD11B types 1 and 2, linking epigenetic alterations with the regulation of fetal stress and birth weight outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin B Green
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - David A Armstrong
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Alison G Paquette
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Dylan J Guerin
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Lauren E Kwan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
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Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Paquette AG, Li Z, Padbury JF, Marsit CJ. Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes are associated with placental leptin DNA methylation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014; 211:654.e1-9. [PMID: 24954653 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to investigate relationships between maternal prepregnancy obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus and placental leptin DNA methylation. STUDY DESIGN This study comprises data on 535 mother-infant dyads enrolled in the Rhode Island Child Health Study, a prospective cohort study of healthy term pregnancies. Prepregnancy body mass index was calculated from self-reported anthropometric measures and gestational diabetes mellitus diagnoses gathered from inpatient medical records. DNA methylation of the leptin promoter region was assessed in placental tissue collected at birth using quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. RESULTS In a multivariable regression analysis adjusted for confounders, infants exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus had higher placental leptin methylation (β = 1.89, P = .04), as did those demonstrating prepregnancy obesity (β = 1.17, P = .06). Using a structural equations model, we observed that gestational diabetes mellitus is a mediator of the effects of prepregnancy obesity on placental leptin DNA methylation (β = 0.81, 95% confidence interval, 0.27-2.71). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the maternal metabolic status before and during pregnancy can alter placental DNA methylation profile at birth and potentially contribute to metabolic programming of obesity and related conditions.
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Paquette AG, Lester BM, Koestler DC, Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Marsit CJ. Placental FKBP5 genetic and epigenetic variation is associated with infant neurobehavioral outcomes in the RICHS cohort. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104913. [PMID: 25115650 PMCID: PMC4130612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse maternal environments can lead to increased fetal exposure to maternal cortisol, which can cause infant neurobehavioral deficits. The placenta regulates fetal cortisol exposure and response, and placental DNA methylation can influence this function. FK506 binding protein (FKBP5) is a negative regulator of cortisol response, FKBP5 methylation has been linked to brain morphology and mental disorder risk, and genetic variation of FKBP5 was associated with post-traumatic stress disorder in adults. We hypothesized that placental FKBP5 methylation and genetic variation contribute to gene expression control, and are associated with infant neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS). In 509 infants enrolled in the Rhode Island Child Health Study, placental FKBP5 methylation was measured at intron 7 using quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. Placental FKBP5 mRNA was measured in a subset of 61 infants by quantitative PCR, and the SNP rs1360780 was genotyped using a quantitative allelic discrimination assay. Relationships between methylation, expression and NNNS scores were examined using linear models adjusted for confounding variables, then logistic models were created to determine the influence of methylation on membership in high risk groups of infants. FKBP5 methylation was negatively associated with expression (P = 0.08, r = -0.22); infants with the TT genotype had higher expression than individuals with CC and CT genotypes (P = 0.06), and those with CC genotype displayed a negative relationship between methylation and expression (P = 0.06, r = -0.43). Infants in the highest quartile of FKBP5 methylation had increased risk of NNNS high arousal compared to infants in the lowest quartile (OR 2.22, CI 1.07-4.61). TT genotype infants had increased odds of high NNNS stress abstinence (OR 1.98, CI 0.92-4.26). Placental FKBP5 methylation reduces expression in a genotype specific fashion, and genetic variation supersedes this effect. These genetic and epigenetic differences in expression may alter the placenta's ability to modulate cortisol response and exposure, leading to altered neurobehavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Barry M. Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Devin C. Koestler
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - David A. Armstrong
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
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Abstract
During fetal development and early-infancy, environmental signals can induce epigenetic changes that alter neurobehavioral development and later-life mental health. Several neurodevelopmental genetic diseases influence epigenetic regulatory genes and genomic imprinting. Recently, brain epigenetic marks have been involved in idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The placenta is an important regulator of the intrauterine environment that links maternal and fetal nervous systems. Placental epigenetic signatures have been associated with neurodevelopment of healthy newborns quantified through the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS). Associations have been observed for DNA methylation of genes involved in cortisol (NR3C1, HSD11B), serotonin (HTR2A), and metabolic (LEP) pathways. Dysregulation of imprinted genes and microRNAs has also been associated with neurobehavior assessed by NNNS. Further analysis is needed to characterize the mechanisms by which the epigenome influences neurodevelopment, and the connection between this dysregulation and mental health disorders. In the future, epigenetic marks could serve as functional biomarkers of mental health and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Murphy MA, Appleton AA, Koestler DC, Paquette AG, Lester BM, Marsit CJ. Sex-specific associations between placental leptin promoter DNA methylation and infant neurobehavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2014; 40:1-9. [PMID: 24485470 PMCID: PMC3912462 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptin (LEP) is a hormone central for energy homeostasis and has been implicated in neurodevelopment. This adipokine is produced by the placenta and is epigenetically regulated by promoter DNA methylation. Recent evidence has suggested a role for LEP in behavioral development. In this study, we investigated associations between profiles of human newborn neurobehavior and placental LEP DNA methylation. METHODS We determined LEP promoter methylation in 444 placental samples from healthy term infants and measured LEP gene expression in a random subset of these samples. Infant neurobehavior was assessed with the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS) and we examined the relationship between LEP promoter methylation and profiles of infant neurobehavior derived from these scores generated using a hierarchical model-based clustering method. RESULTS LEP methylation is negatively correlated with gene expression only in placentas from male infants (r=-0.6, P=0.006). A 10% increase in LEP DNA methylation was associated with membership in a profile of infant neurobehavior marked by increased lethargy and hypotonicity (OR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.07-3.4), and consistently with reduced risk of membership in a profile characterized by decreased lethargy and hypotonicity (OR=0.54; 95% CI: 0.3-0.94) only in male infants (n=223). No statistically significant associations were observed amongst female infants. DISCUSSION These results suggest that increased placental LEP DNA methylation, related to reduced expression, may play a role in human newborn neurodevelopment, particularly in reactivity to various stimuli, but that these effects may be sexually dimorphic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - David A. Armstrong
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Megan A. Murphy
- Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Allison A. Appleton
- Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Devin C. Koestler
- Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Barry M. Lester
- The Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA,Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. Tel.: +1 603 6501825; fax: +1 603 6501129. (C. Lesseur), (C.J. Marsit)
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Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Paquette AG, Koestler DC, Padbury JF, Marsit CJ. Tissue-specific Leptin promoter DNA methylation is associated with maternal and infant perinatal factors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2013; 381:160-7. [PMID: 23911897 PMCID: PMC3795868 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Leptin a regulator of body weight is involved in reproductive and developmental functions. Leptin promoter DNA methylation (LEP) regulates gene expression in a tissue-specific manner and has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. In non-pathologic human pregnancies, we assessed LEP methylation, genotyped the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2167270 in placental (n=81), maternal and cord blood samples (n=60), and examined the association between methylation, genotype, and perinatal factors. Maternal blood LEP methylation was lower in pre-pregnancy obese women (P=0.01). Cord blood LEP methylation was higher in small for gestational age (SGA) (P=4.6×10(-3)) and A/A genotype (P=1.6×10(-4)), lower (-1.47, P=0.03) in infants born to pre-pregnancy obese mothers and correlated (P=0.01) with maternal blood LEP. Gender was associated with placental LEP methylation (P=0.05). These results suggest that LEP epigenetic control may be influenced by perinatal factors including: maternal obesity, infant growth, genotype and gender in a tissue-specific manner and may have multigenerational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - David A. Armstrong
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Devin C. Koestler
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - James F. Padbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & infants Hospital of RI, Brown University, Box G-WIH, Providence, RI 02905, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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Paquette AG, Lesseur C, Armstrong DA, Koestler DC, Appleton AA, Lester BM, Marsit CJ. Placental HTR2A methylation is associated with infant neurobehavioral outcomes. Epigenetics 2013; 8:796-801. [PMID: 23880519 DOI: 10.4161/epi.25358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin receptor, HTR2A, exhibits placental expression and function and can be controlled through DNA methylation. The relationship between methylation of HTR2A in the placenta and neurodevelopmental outcomes, evaluated using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS), was assessed in newborn infants (n = 444). HTR2A methylation was significantly higher in males and marginally higher in infants whose mothers reported tobacco use during pregnancy. Controlling for confounding variables, HTR2A methylation was negatively associated with infant quality of movement (p = 0.05) and positively associated with infant attention (p = 0.0001). These results suggest that methylation of the HTR2A gene can be biologically and environmentally modulated and is associated with key measures of neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth; Dartmouth, NH USA
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