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Racial differences in IGF1 methylation and birth weight.

Jennifer K Straughen1, Levent Sipahi2, Monica Uddin3

  • 1Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, The Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3939 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201 USA ; Current address: Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, One Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202 USA.

Clinical Epigenetics
|May 7, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Black neonates have lower birth weights than White neonates. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) methylation may partially explain this disparity, suggesting epigenetic factors influence perinatal outcomes.

Keywords:
Birth weightDisparitiesEpigeneticsIGF1MethylationPerinatalRace

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Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Epigenetics
  • Racial Disparities in Health
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Birth weight disparities exist between Black and White neonates in the US.
  • Epigenetic variations, specifically DNA methylation, are hypothesized to contribute to these racial differences.
  • Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) methylation is investigated as a potential mediator.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To model the role of IGF1 methylation in mediating the association between race and birth weight.
  • To investigate epigenetic mechanisms underlying racial disparities in neonatal birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a cohort of 87 live-born infants.
  • Measurement of IGF1 methylation in umbilical cord blood DNA using Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadArray and pyrosequencing.
  • Application of multiple linear regression and formal mediation analysis to assess relationships between race, IGF1 methylation, and gestational age-adjusted birth weight (aBW).

Main Results:

  • Black infants exhibited significantly higher IGF1 methylation compared to non-Black infants.
  • Increased IGF1 methylation was associated with decreased aBW.
  • The association between Black race and aBW was attenuated when IGF1 methylation was included as a covariate, indicating partial mediation.

Conclusions:

  • IGF1 methylation may partially mediate the relationship between Black race and lower gestational age-adjusted birth weight.
  • Epigenetic differences, such as IGF1 methylation patterns, could play a role in observed racial disparities in perinatal outcomes.