TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential Placental DNA Methylation of NR3C1 in Extremely Preterm Infants With Poorer Neurological Functioning
AU - van Dokkum, Nienke H
AU - Bachini, Sofia
AU - Verkaik-Schakel, Rikst Nynke
AU - Baptist, Dyvonne H
AU - Salavati, Sahar
AU - Kraft, Karianne E
AU - Scherjon, Sicco A
AU - Bos, Arend F
AU - Plösch, Torsten
N1 - Copyright © 2022 van Dokkum, Bachini, Verkaik-Schakel, Baptist, Salavati, Kraft, Scherjon, Bos and Plösch.
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Background: Understanding underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental impairment following preterm birth may enhance opportunities for targeted interventions. We aimed to assess whether placental DNA methylation of selected genes affected early neurological functioning in preterm infants.Methods: We included 43 infants, with gestational age <30 weeks and/or birth weight <1,000 g and placental samples at birth. We selected genes based on their associations with several prenatal conditions that may be related to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. We determined DNA methylation using pyrosequencing, and neurological functioning at 3 months post-term using Prechtl's General Movement Assessment, including the Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R).Results: Twenty-four infants had atypical MOS-R, 19 infants had near-optimal MOS-R. We identified differences in average methylation of NR3C1 (encoding for the glucocorticoid receptor) [3.3% (95%-CI: 2.4%-3.9%) for near-optimal vs. 2.3% (95%-CI: 1.7%-3.0%), p = 0.008 for atypical], and at three of the five individual CpG-sites. For EPO, SLC6A3, TLR4, VEGFA, LEP and HSD11B2 we found no differences between the groups.Conclusion: Hypomethylation of NR3C1 in placental tissue is associated with poorer neurological functioning at 3 months post-term in extremely preterm infants. Alleviating stress during pregnancy and its impact on preterm infants and their neurodevelopmental outcomes should be further investigated.
AB - Background: Understanding underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental impairment following preterm birth may enhance opportunities for targeted interventions. We aimed to assess whether placental DNA methylation of selected genes affected early neurological functioning in preterm infants.Methods: We included 43 infants, with gestational age <30 weeks and/or birth weight <1,000 g and placental samples at birth. We selected genes based on their associations with several prenatal conditions that may be related to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. We determined DNA methylation using pyrosequencing, and neurological functioning at 3 months post-term using Prechtl's General Movement Assessment, including the Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R).Results: Twenty-four infants had atypical MOS-R, 19 infants had near-optimal MOS-R. We identified differences in average methylation of NR3C1 (encoding for the glucocorticoid receptor) [3.3% (95%-CI: 2.4%-3.9%) for near-optimal vs. 2.3% (95%-CI: 1.7%-3.0%), p = 0.008 for atypical], and at three of the five individual CpG-sites. For EPO, SLC6A3, TLR4, VEGFA, LEP and HSD11B2 we found no differences between the groups.Conclusion: Hypomethylation of NR3C1 in placental tissue is associated with poorer neurological functioning at 3 months post-term in extremely preterm infants. Alleviating stress during pregnancy and its impact on preterm infants and their neurodevelopmental outcomes should be further investigated.
U2 - 10.3389/fped.2022.876803
DO - 10.3389/fped.2022.876803
M3 - Article
C2 - 35722484
SN - 2296-2360
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Pediatrics
JF - Frontiers in Pediatrics
M1 - 876803
ER -