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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Insufficient maintenance DNA methylation is associated with abnormal embryonic development

Authors: Li-Jun Yin, Yu Zhang, Ping-Ping Lv, Wei-Hua He, Yan-Ting Wu, Ai-Xia Liu, Guo-Lian Ding, Min-Yue Dong, Fan Qu, Chen-Ming Xu, Xiao-Ming Zhu, He-Feng Huang

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is a frustrating clinical problem, whose mechanisms are not completely understood. DNA methylation, which includes maintenance methylation and de novo methylation directed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), is important for embryo development. Abnormal function of these DNMTs may have serious consequences for embryonic development.

Methods

To evaluate the possible involvement of DNA methylation in human EPL, the expression of DNMT proteins and global methylation of DNA were assessed in villous or decidua from EPL patients. The association of maintenance methylation with embryo implantation and development was also examined.

Results

We found that DNMT1 and DNMT3A were both expressed in normal human villous and decidua. DNMT1 expression and DNA global methylation levels were significantly down-regulated in villous of EPL. DNMT3A expression was not significantly changed in the EPL group compared to controls in either villous or decidua. We also found that disturbance of maintenance methylation with a DNMT1 inhibitor may result in a decreased global DNA methylation level and impaired embryonic development in the mouse model, and inhibit in vitro embryo attachment to endometrial cells.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that defects in DNA maintenance methylation in the embryo, not in the mother, are associated with abnormal embryonic implantation and development. The findings of the current study provide new insights into the etiology of EPL.
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Metadata
Title
Insufficient maintenance DNA methylation is associated with abnormal embryonic development
Authors
Li-Jun Yin
Yu Zhang
Ping-Ping Lv
Wei-Hua He
Yan-Ting Wu
Ai-Xia Liu
Guo-Lian Ding
Min-Yue Dong
Fan Qu
Chen-Ming Xu
Xiao-Ming Zhu
He-Feng Huang
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-10-26

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