DNA methylation in newborns compared to in utero exposures and health outcomes in children
We have formed a consortium (Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics or PACE) together with other birth and child cohorts that have also measured methylation.
About the project
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Project period: 29.08.2017 - 30.08.2022 (Concluded)
- Coordinating Institution: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Manager:
- Per Minor Magnus, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Participants:
- Per Minor Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Tianyuan Wang, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Shanshan Zhao, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Christine Louise Parr, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Maria Christine Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Christian Magnus Page, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Quaker Harmon, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Sinjini Sikdar, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Mi Kyeong Lee, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Jianping Jin, Westat
- Sarah Reese, National Institutes of Health
- Wenche Nystad, Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Siri Eldevik Håberg, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Anita Haugan, Health Studies, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Summary
Recent studies suggest that exposures in pregnancy may affect the health and disease of offspring either at birth, in childhood or later.
Abstract:
Recent studies suggest that exposures in pregnancy may affect the health and disease of offspring either at birth, in childhood or later. Epigenetics is a mechanism that can transfer the effects of fetal life to later health. Epigenetics refers to modifications of DNA that do not alter the DNA sequence. Methylation is the best studied epigenetic modification. From 2011-2013, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) has funded full-genome methylation measurements using the Illumina 450K platform in more than 1,700 MoBa umbilical vein samples. In collaboration with other cohorts, we have found that methylation in newborns reveals maternal exposures such as smoking, folate intake and prenatal air pollution. Because epigenome-wide analyses require large samples, we have formed a consortium (Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics or PACE) together with other birth and child cohorts that have also measured methylation.