Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
There is evidence that altered DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism in prenatal programming and that developmental periods are sensitive to environmental stressors. We hypothesized that exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy could influence DNA methylation patterns of the placenta.Methods
In the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, levels of 5'-methyl-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) and deoxycytidine (dC) were quantified in placental DNA from 240 newborns. Multiple regression models were used to study placental global DNA methylation and in utero exposure to PM2.5 over various time windows during pregnancy.Results
PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy averaged (25th-75th percentile) 17.4 (15.4-19.3) ?g/m3. Placental global DNA methylation was inversely associated with PM2.5 exposures during whole pregnancy and relatively decreased by 2.19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.65, -0.73%, p?=?0.004) for each 5 ?g/m3 increase in exposure to PM2.5. In a multi-lag model in which all three trimester exposures were fitted as independent variables in the same regression model, only exposure to PM2.5 during trimester 1 was significantly associated with lower global DNA methylation (-2.13% per 5 ?g/m3 increase, 95% CI: -3.71, -0.54%, p?=?0.009). When we analyzed shorter time windows of exposure within trimester 1, we observed a lower placental DNA methylation at birth during all implantation stages but exposure during the implantation range (6-21d) was strongest associated (-1.08% per 5 ?g/m3 increase, 95% CI: -1.80, -0.36%, p?=?0.004).Conclusions
We observed a lower degree of placental global DNA methylation in association with exposure to particulate air pollution in early pregnancy, including the critical stages of implantation. Future studies should elucidate genome-wide and gene-specific methylation patterns in placental tissue that could link particulate exposure during in utero life and early epigenetic modulations.
SUBMITTER: Janssen BG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3686623 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Janssen Bram G BG Godderis Lode L Pieters Nicky N Poels Katrien K Kiciński Michał M Cuypers Ann A Fierens Frans F Penders Joris J Plusquin Michelle M Gyselaers Wilfried W Nawrot Tim S TS
Particle and fibre toxicology 20130607
<h4>Background</h4>There is evidence that altered DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism in prenatal programming and that developmental periods are sensitive to environmental stressors. We hypothesized that exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy could influence DNA methylation patterns of the placenta.<h4>Methods</h4>In the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, levels of 5'-methyl-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) and deoxycytidine (dC) were quantified in placental DNA from 240 newborns. Multi ...[more]