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Exploring mitochondrial heteroplasmy in neonates: implications for growth patterns and overweight in the first years

Charlotte Cosemans1, Rossella Alfano1, Hanne Sleurs1

  • 1Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|May 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in cord blood is linked to rapid infant growth and later childhood overweight. This finding offers insights into early life development and potential molecular mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Mitochondrial Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial heteroplasmy involves variations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences within an individual.
  • These variations can influence cellular energy production and mitochondrial function.
  • Rapid early childhood growth has significant long-term health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cord blood mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy and rapid growth in infancy.
  • To examine the link between cord blood mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy and childhood overweight.
  • To identify determinants of specific mitochondrial heteroplasmies in cord blood.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 200 mother-child pairs from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort.
  • Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing determined mtDNA heteroplasmy levels (variant allele frequency; VAF) in cord blood.
  • Logistic and multiple linear regression models analyzed associations between heteroplasmy, rapid growth, childhood overweight, and determinants.

Main Results:

  • Increased VAF of cord blood MT-D-Loop heteroplasmy correlated with rapid growth at 6 and 12 months.
  • This specific heteroplasmy was also associated with childhood overweight.
  • Rapid infant growth was significantly linked to childhood overweight.
  • Maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, education, parity, and gestational age were identified as determinants.

Conclusions:

  • Cord blood mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rapid early growth.
  • Findings suggest a potential pathway linking mitochondrial DNA variations to the development of childhood overweight.
  • This research contributes to understanding the early life origins of metabolic health.
Abstract

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