Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Published on: November 30, 2021
Hypermethylation of CTDSPL2 prior to necrotizing enterocolitis onset
Daphne H Klerk1, Elisabeth Mw Kooi1, Arend F Bos1
1Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713GZ, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in preterm infants. Epigenetic changes in DNA methylation may be present prior to NEC onset. Methods: 24 preterm infants with NEC and 45 matched controls were included. Human DNA was isolated from stool samples and methylation of CTDSPL2, HERC1, NXPE3 and PTGDR was measured using pyrosequencing. Results: CTDSPL2 displayed a higher DNA methylation of 51% compared with 17% in controls, prior to NEC onset (p = 0.047). Discussion: Noninvasive measurement of methylation in stool allows for comparison with healthy preterm controls. This potentially allows future biomarker or risk predictor use. The effect of CTDSPL2 hypermethylation on gene expression remains unclear.
