Gestational Weight Gain Relates to DNA Methylation in Umbilical Cord, Which, In Turn, Associates with Offspring Obesity-Related Parameters

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 14; p. 3175
• Main Authors: Mas-Parés, Berta, Xargay-Torrent, Sílvia, Gómez-Vilarrubla, Ariadna, Carreras-Badosa, Gemma, Prats-Puig, Anna, De Zegher, Francis, Ibáñez, Lourdes, Bassols, Judit, López-Bermejo, Abel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.07.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Age; Body Mass Index; DNA; DNA Methylation; Epigenetic inheritance; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Genomics; Gestational diabetes; Gestational Weight Gain; Humans; Metabolism; Methylation; Obesity; Obesity in children; Pediatric Obesity - genetics; Placenta; Pregnancy; Ultrasonic imaging; Umbilical Cord; Weight Gain - genetics; Womens health; Germany; Spain; DNA methylation; gestational weight gain; obesity
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15143175

Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) has a negative impact on offspring's health. Epigenetic modifications mediate these associations by causing changes in gene expression. We studied the association between GWG and DNA methylation in umbilical cord tissue; and determined whether the DNA methylation and the expression of corresponding annotated genes were associated with obesity-related parameters in offspring at 6 years of age. The methylated CpG sites (CpGs) associated with GWG were identified in umbilical cord tissue by genome-wide DNA methylation ( = 24). Twelve top CpGs were validated in a wider sample by pyrosequencing ( = 87), and the expression of their 5 annotated genes ( , , , , and ) was assessed by RT-PCR. Pyrosequencing results validated the association of SETD8, SLIT3, and RPTOR methylation with GWG and showed that higher levels of and methylation and lower levels of methylation relate to a higher risk of obesity in the offspring. The association of and gene expression with offspring outcomes paralleled the association of methylation levels in opposite directions. Epigenetic changes in the umbilical cord tissue could explain, in part, the relationship between GWG and offspring obesity risk and be early biomarkers for the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood.