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Birth weight, working memory and epigenetic signatures in IGF2 and related genes: a MZ twin study

Aldo Córdova-Palomera1, Silvia Alemany1, Mar Fatjó-Vilas1

  • 1Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

Plos One
|August 30, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Obstetric complications can impact neurodevelopment. This study found DNA methylation in IGF2BP1 links birth weight and working memory, suggesting early epigenetic changes influence cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Obstetric complications are linked to neurodevelopmental issues and cognitive dysfunction.
  • Early-life epigenetic processes may mediate these associations.
  • DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism influencing gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate DNA methylation signatures at IGF2 and IGF2BP1 genes in adult monozygotic twins.
  • To examine associations between DNA methylation, birth weight, and working memory performance.
  • To evaluate the role of familial and unique environmental factors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of DNA methylation in adult monozygotic twins (n=34).
  • Multivariate linear regression of twin data to assess relationships between methylation, birth weight, and working memory.
  • Evaluation of environmental and genetic influences.

Main Results:

  • A significant association was found between DNA methylation at two CpG sites in IGF2BP1 and both birth weight and working memory.
  • The association between birth weight and IGF2BP1 methylation was attributed to non-shared environmental factors.
  • The relationship between working memory and IGF2BP1 methylation was influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Conclusions:

  • DNA methylation patterns, particularly in IGF2BP1, are associated with birth weight and adult working memory.
  • These findings support the role of early epigenetic modifications in mediating the effects of prenatal factors on neurocognitive outcomes.
  • The study suggests that birth weight and working memory associations with DNA methylation are independent.

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