Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
SHR Neuro Krebs Kardio Lipid Stoffw Microb
Januar, V; Desoye, G; Novakovic, B; Cvitic, S; Saffery, R.
Epigenetic regulation of human placental function and pregnancy outcome: considerations for causal inference.
AM J OBSTET GYNECOL. 2015; 213(4 Suppl): S182-S196.
Doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.07.011
Web of Science
PubMed
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- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Desoye Gernot
- Tokic Silvija
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- Abstract:
- Epigenetic mechanisms, often defined as regulating gene activity independently of underlying DNA sequence, are crucial for healthy development. The sum total of epigenetic marks within a cell or tissue (the epigenome) is sensitive to environmental influence, and disruption of the epigenome in utero has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Not surprisingly, given its multifaceted functions and important role in regulating pregnancy outcome, the placenta shows unique epigenetic features. Interestingly however, many of these are only otherwise seen in human malignancy (the pseudomalignant placental epigenome). Epigenetic variation in the placenta is now emerging as a candidate mediator of environmental influence on placental functioning and a key regulator of pregnancy outcome. However, replication of findings is generally lacking, most likely due to small sample sizes and a lack of standardization of analytical approaches. Defining DNA methylation "signatures" in the placenta associated with maternal and fetal outcomes offers tremendous potential to improve pregnancy outcomes, but care must be taken in interpretation of findings. Future placental epigenetic research would do well to address the issues present in epigenetic epidemiology more generally, including careful consideration of sample size, potentially confounding factors, issues of tissue heterogeneity, reverse causation, and the role of genetics in modulating epigenetic profile. The importance of animal or in vitro models in establishing a functional role of epigenetic variation identified in human beings, which is key to establishing causation, should not be underestimated. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Blastocyst -
- DNA Methylation -
- Epigenesis, Genetic -
- Female -
- Gene Expression Regulation -
- Gene-Environment Interaction -
- Genetic Variation -
- Genomic Imprinting -
- Humans -
- Placenta - physiology
- Pregnancy -
- Pregnancy Complications - genetics
- Pregnancy Outcome - genetics
- Sex Factors -
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- confounding
- development
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
- DNA methylation
- epigenetics
- epigenome
- fetal programming
- gestational age
- gestational diabetes
- intrauterine growth restriction
- placenta
- preeclampsia
- pseudomalignant
- reverse causation
- trophoblast