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Association of cord blood methylation with neonatal leptin: An epigenome wide association study

Rachel Kadakia1, Yinan Zheng2, Zhou Zhang2

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.

Plos One
|December 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic changes in newborn blood DNA are linked to leptin levels, a marker of neonatal adiposity. This research explores early life obesity risk factors and potential epigenetic influences on infant body composition.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
  • Metabolic Health and Obesity Research
  • Neonatal and Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Neonatal adiposity is a significant risk factor for developing childhood obesity.
  • Understanding early life influences on adiposity is crucial for obesity prevention strategies.
  • Epigenetic modifications in metabolic genes within cord blood may play a role in neonatal adiposity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cord blood DNA methylation patterns and neonatal adiposity markers.
  • To explore the relationship between epigenome-wide DNA methylation and cord blood leptin levels.
  • To identify specific genes and differentially methylated regions linked to neonatal body composition.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 114 full-term neonates.
  • Analysis of cord blood DNA methylation using the Illumina 450K platform.
  • Measurement of neonatal body composition via air displacement plethysmography and assessment of cord blood leptin.
  • Multivariable linear regression and false discovery rate estimation to identify associations.

Main Results:

  • 247 CpG sites and 18 differentially methylated gene regions were significantly associated with cord blood leptin levels.
  • No significant associations were found between epigenetic changes and birth weight, fat mass, or percent body fat.
  • Key genes identified include DNAJA4, TFR2, SMAD3, PLAG1, FGF1, and HNF4A.

Conclusions:

  • Cord blood DNA methylation patterns are associated with cord blood leptin levels, a key indicator of neonatal adiposity.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for epigenetics in early life obesity risk.
  • Further research can explore the causal pathways linking epigenetic modifications to neonatal adiposity.
Abstract

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