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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb

Bečeheli, I; Horvatiček, M; Perić, M; Nikolić, B; Holuka, C; Klasić, M; Ivanišević, M; Starčević, M; Desoye, G; Hranilović, D; Turner, JD; Štefulj, J.
Methylation of serotonin regulating genes in cord blood cells: association with maternal metabolic parameters and correlation with methylation in peripheral blood cells during childhood and adolescence.
Clin Epigenetics. 2024; 16(1):4 Doi: 10.1186/s13148-023-01610-w [OPEN ACCESS]
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Desoye Gernot
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Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling is involved in neurodevelopment, mood regulation, energy metabolism, and other physiological processes. DNA methylation plays a significant role in modulating the expression of genes responsible for maintaining 5-HT balance, such as 5-HT transporter (SLC6A4), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), and 5-HT receptor type 2A (HTR2A). Maternal metabolic health can influence long-term outcomes in offspring, with DNA methylation mediating these effects. We investigated associations between maternal metabolic parameters-pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and glucose tolerance status (GTS), i.e., gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) versus normal glucose tolerance (NGT)-and cord blood methylation of SLC6A4, MAOA, and HTR2A in participants from our PlaNS birth cohort. CpG sites (15, 9, and 2 in each gene, respectively) were selected based on literature and in silico data. Methylation levels were quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. We also examined the stability of methylation patterns in these genes in circulating blood cells from birth to adolescence using longitudinal DNA methylation data from the ARIES database. RESULTS: None of the 203 PlaNS mothers included in this study had preexisting diabetes, 99 were diagnosed with GDM, and 104 had NGT; all neonates were born at full term by planned Cesarean section. Methylation at most CpG sites differed between male and female newborns. SLC6A4 methylation correlated inversely with maternal pBMI and GWG, while methylation at HTR2A site -1665 correlated positively with GWG. None of the maternal metabolic parameters statistically associated with MAOA methylation. DNA methylation data in cord blood and peripheral blood at ages 7 and 15 years were available for 808 participants from the ARIES database; 4 CpG sites (2 in SLC6A4 and 2 in HTR2A) overlapped between the PlaNS and ARIES cohorts. A positive correlation between methylation levels in cord blood and peripheral blood at 7 and 15 years of age was observed for both SLC6A4 and HTR2A CpG sites. CONCLUSIONS: Methylation of 5-HT regulating genes in cord blood cells is influenced by neonatal sex, with maternal metabolism playing an additional role. Inter-individual variations present in circulating blood cells at birth are still pronounced in childhood and adolescence.
Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
Humans - administration & dosage
Male - administration & dosage
Infant, Newborn - administration & dosage
Pregnancy - administration & dosage
Female - administration & dosage
Adolescent - administration & dosage
DNA Methylation - administration & dosage
Serotonin - metabolism
Fetal Blood - metabolism
Cesarean Section - administration & dosage
Diabetes, Gestational - genetics
Blood Cells - metabolism
Glucose - metabolism
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics, metabolism

Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
Early-life adversity
Maternal obesity
ALSPAC
Epigenetic
DoHAD
Sex differences
5-HT
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