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Decoding bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants through an epigenetic lens

Seyed Alireza Dastgheib1, Reza Bahrami2, Mohammad Golshan-Tafti3

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Frontiers in Medicine
|April 18, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and RNA regulation are key in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development in premature infants. These alterations offer potential biomarkers for early detection and targeted interventions for BPD.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Epigenetics
  • Pulmonary Biology

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in premature infants resulting from complex genetic and environmental factors.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA regulation, are increasingly recognized as crucial in BPD pathogenesis.
  • Understanding these epigenetic alterations is vital for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of the epigenetic mechanisms implicated in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
  • To highlight the roles of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and various RNA species in BPD.
  • To explore the potential of epigenetic alterations as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BPD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on epigenetic mechanisms in BPD.
  • Analysis of studies investigating DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA regulation (m6A, microRNAs, lncRNAs) in the context of BPD.
  • Identification of key genes and pathways affected by epigenetic changes.

Main Results:

  • Intrauterine and neonatal factors (hypoxia, hyperoxia, nutrition) induce epigenetic alterations impacting gene expression.
  • RUNX3 identified as a critical transcription factor in lung development and inflammation.
  • Epigenetic changes in cord blood, including DNA methylation and histone dynamics, are linked to immune dysregulation in BPD.
  • Specific RNA regulators (IGF2BP family, miR-17∼92 cluster, MALAT1 lncRNA) influence mRNA stability, gene expression, and vascular regulation relevant to BPD.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis of BPD.
  • Epigenetic alterations present potential biomarkers for early BPD detection and risk assessment.
  • Targeted epigenetic interventions may offer novel therapeutic strategies to reduce BPD severity and improve outcomes for neonates.

Keywords:
DNA methylationRUNX3bronchopulmonary dysplasiaepigeneticslong non-coding RNAsmicroRNAs

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