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Published on: June 29, 2013
Intrauterine growth restriction modifies gene expression profiling in cord blood
Taketoshi Yoshida1, Ichiro Takasaki, Hirokazu Kanegane
1Division of Neonatology, Maternal and Perinatal Center, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
Insights
Gene expression changes in cord blood of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns are linked to future metabolic syndrome risks. This study identifies specific gene alterations during the fetal period, offering insights into long-term health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neonatology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns face higher risks of perinatal issues and adult metabolic diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
- The underlying mechanisms for these increased risks in SGA infants are not fully understood.
- This research investigates fetal genetic modifications in SGA newborns via cord blood analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize fetal changes in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns.
- To identify specific gene expression alterations in the cord blood of SGA infants.
- To explore the potential link between fetal gene expression and later metabolic syndrome development.
Main Methods:
- Compared gene expression in cord blood between 10 SGA and 10 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns using microarray analysis.
- Utilized Ingenuity Pathways Knowledge Base for pathway analysis of identified genes.
- Confirmed microarray findings for upregulated genes in SGA newborns using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Main Results:
- Identified 775 upregulated and 936 downregulated probes in SGA newborns compared to AGA newborns.
- Annotated 1149 of the identified probes, with most genes linked to cardiovascular disease and T2DM development.
- Demonstrated good agreement between microarray analysis and RT-PCR results for gene expression validation.
Conclusions:
- Observed modified gene expression in the fetal period of SGA newborns.
- Highlighted that these altered genes are associated with metabolic syndrome.
- Proposed long-term follow-up of SGA newborns to examine the link between cord blood gene expression and adult metabolic syndrome vulnerability, using cord blood gene expression as a non-invasive investigative tool.
Background:
Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns are at an increased risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality and development of metabolic syndromes such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adulthood. The mechanism underlying this increased risk remains unclear. In this study, genetic modifications of cord blood were investigated to characterize fetal change in SGA newborns.
Methods:
Gene expression in cord blood cells was compared between 10 SGA newborns and 10 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns using microarray analysis. Pathway analysis was conducted using the Ingenuity Pathways Knowledge Base. To confirm the microarray analysis results, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for upregulated genes in SGA newborns.
Results:
In total, 775 upregulated and 936 downregulated probes were identified in SGA newborns and compared with those in AGA newborns. Of these probes, 1149 were annotated. Most of these genes have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease and T2DM. There was good agreement between the RT-PCR and microarray analyses results.
Conclusions:
Expression of certain genes was modified in SGA newborns in the fetal period. These genes have been associated with metabolic syndrome. To clarify the association between modified gene expression in cord blood and individual vulnerability to metabolic syndrome in adulthood, these SGA newborns will be have long-term follow up for examination of genetic and postnatal environmental factors. Gene expression of cord blood can be a useful and non-invasive method of investigation of genetic alterations in the fetal period.
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