Global DNA methylation in neonatal sepsis

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Epigenetics
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in newborns.
• Early diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal sepsis are critical for effective treatment.
• Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are increasingly recognized for their role in disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of genomic DNA (gDNA) methylation as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for neonatal sepsis.
• To compare gDNA methylation levels in newborns with and without sepsis.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted with 51 newborns diagnosed with sepsis and 37 healthy controls.
• Genomic DNA methylation was quantified using the 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) DNA ELISA method.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare methylation levels between groups and correlate with clinical factors.

Main Results:

• A highly significant difference in gDNA methylation percentage was observed between septic and non-septic newborns (p < 0.0001).
• Culture-proven and probable sepsis cases showed significantly higher methylation compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in methylation were found concerning gestational age, birth weight, or outcomes like shock and thrombocytopenia, except for renal failure.

Conclusions:

• Genomic DNA methylation levels significantly vary between newborns with and without sepsis.
• Global DNA methylation is not a highly sensitive standalone diagnostic method for neonatal sepsis.
• DNA methylation may play a role in neonatal sepsis susceptibility, and specific differentially methylated genes could serve as future diagnostic/prognostic markers.