ABSTRACT

To explore the impact of air pollutants exposure during pregnancy on infant DNA methylation, we identified correlated methylated genes in maternal and cord blood samples using the Illumina Human Methylation 27 k BeadChip. Quantitative methylation-specific PCR (QMS-PCR) was performed to validate the target gene methylation pattern in 568 participants. Then the association between air pollutants exposure and DNA methylation level in the target gene was investigated. The GPR61 gene with a higher methylation level both in mothers and newborns was identified as the target gene, and we found a positive mother-infant DNA methylation correlation in the promoter region of GPR61. Air pollutants exposure during entire pregnancy was associated with maternal and infant GPR61 DNA methylation. After adjusting confounding variables, maternal air pollutants exposure was still associated with infant GPR61 DNA methylation. In summary, GPR61 methylation in cord blood may be a potential target of prenatal exposure to air pollutants.

摘要

为了探索怀孕期间空气污染物暴露对婴儿 DNA 甲基化的影响，我们使用 Illumina Human Methylation 27 k BeadChip 在母体和脐带血样本中鉴定了相关的甲基化基因。进行了定量甲基化特异性 PCR (QMS-PCR) 以验证 568 名参与者的靶基因甲基化模式。然后研究了空气污染物暴露与靶基因中DNA甲基化水平之间的关联。将母亲和新生儿甲基化水平较高的GPR61基因确定为靶基因，我们发现GPR61启动子区域的母婴 DNA 甲基化正相关。整个孕期空气污染物暴露与母婴GPR61相关DNA甲基化。调整混杂变量后，母体空气污染物暴露仍与婴儿GPR61 DNA 甲基化相关。总之，脐带血中的GPR61甲基化可能是产前暴露于空气污染物的潜在目标。