Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
14:56

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

4.7K

Placental Gene Expression Associated With Early Childhood Growth Trajectories and Obesity Risk

Hyo Young Choi1, Luhang Han1, Alison G Paquette2

  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|July 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Placental gene expression is linked to childhood growth patterns and obesity risk. Immune system genes in the placenta may play a key role in developing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Developmental Biology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Early childhood growth trajectories and obesity are influenced by complex genetic and environmental factors.
  • Placental gene expression is a critical determinant of fetal development and may impact long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding the molecular basis of early growth is essential for developing effective obesity prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between placental gene expression and early childhood growth trajectories.
  • To identify specific genes and biological pathways in the placenta related to childhood obesity risk.
  • To explore potential causal relationships between placental gene expression and growth outcomes using Mendelian randomization.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of placental transcriptome data from 794 children in the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood study.
  • Identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with body mass index (BMI) trajectories and overweight/obesity at age 4 years.
  • Pathway enrichment analysis and Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore biological pathways and causal links.

Main Results:

  • 22 and 23 DEGs were associated with BMI trajectories and overweight/obesity, respectively (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05).
  • Pathway analysis revealed 26 biological pathways, predominantly linked to the immune system.
  • MR analysis suggested potential causal associations for one DEG with BMI trajectories and eight DEGs with overweight/obesity (FDR < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Placental gene expression is associated with early childhood growth trajectories and obesity risk.
  • Genes within the placental immune system may be significant contributors to the development of childhood obesity.
  • These findings highlight the placenta as a potential target for interventions aimed at preventing childhood obesity.
Abstract

Keywords:
childhood obesitygrowth trajectoryplacentatranscriptome

More Related Videos

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta11:44

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

Published on: September 27, 2017

11.5K
Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings14:40

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings

Published on: October 25, 2015

9.5K

Related Concept Videos

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
35.3K
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
13.9K
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
620
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
727
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
483
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
66.5K