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Tissue-specific DNA methylation profiles in newborns

Emilie Herzog1, Jubby Galvez, Anton Roks

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, dr, Molewaterplein 50, Rotterdam, GE 3015, the Netherlands. r.steegers@erasmusmc.nl.

Clinical Epigenetics
|June 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) may not reflect levels in other tissues. IGF2 and H19 gene methylation varied significantly between MNC, placenta, and Wharton jelly.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Genomics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Fetal growth restriction and low birth weight are linked to long-term health issues.
  • Epigenetic programming, particularly DNA methylation, is a proposed mechanism.
  • Most DNA methylation studies use white blood cells, limiting tissue-specific understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate tissue-specific DNA methylation profiles of imprinted genes IGF2 and H19.
  • To compare methylation patterns in umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC), placenta, and Wharton jelly.

Main Methods:

  • DNA methylation of IGF2 and H19 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) was measured.
  • Quantitative mass spectrometry was used for analysis.
  • Samples included MNC (CD34+ and CD34-), placenta, and Wharton jelly.

Main Results:

  • No significant methylation difference was found between CD34+ and CD34- MNC fractions.
  • IGF2 DMR methylation was 1.3 times higher in Wharton jelly compared to pooled MNC (P=0.001).
  • H19 DMR methylation was lower in placenta (0.8 times, P<0.001) and Wharton jelly (0.9 times, P<0.001) than in pooled MNC.

Conclusions:

  • Umbilical cord blood MNC represent a homogeneous cell population for imprinted gene methylation studies.
  • MNC methylation levels may not accurately represent IGF2 and H19 methylation in other fetal tissues like placenta and Wharton jelly.
Abstract

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