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BMC Medical Genetics
Published in: BMC Medical Genetics 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Increased methylation at differentially methylated region of GNASin infants born to gestational diabetes

Authors: Danqing Chen, Aiping Zhang, Min Fang, Rong Fang, Jiamei Ge, Yuan Jiang, Hong Zhang, Cong Han, Xiaoqun Ye, Hefeng Huang, Yun Liu, Minyue Dong

Published in: BMC Medical Genetics | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Offspring of pregnancy complicated with gestational diabetes (GDM) are at high risk for metabolic diseases. The mechanisms behind the association of intrauterine exposure to GDM and high risk of health problems in later life remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the alteration in methylation levels at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of GNAS and IGF2 in fetuses of GDM women and to explore the possible mechanisms linking maternal GDM with high risk of metabolic diseases in later life of GDM offspring.

Methods

Lymphocytes were isolated from umbilical cord blood of infants born to 87 women with GDM and 81 women with normal pregnancy. Genomic DNA was extracted and DNA methylation levels of GNAS and IGF2 DMRs were determined by Massarray quantitative methylation analysis.

Results

The methylation levels were detected in 7 CpG sites of GNAS DMRs and 6 sites of IGF2 DMRs. Methylation levels were significantly higher at sites 4, 5 and 7 of GNAS DMR in GDM compared to normal pregnancy (P = 0.007, 0.008 and 0.008, respectively). The methylation level at site 4 of GNAS was significantly correlated with the presence of GDM (P = 0.003), the methylation levels at site 5 and 7 were significantly correlated with the presence of GDM (P = 0.002 for both) and gestational age (P = 0.027 for both). There was no significant difference in any sites of IGF2 DMR (P > 0.05 for all).

Conclusions

We concluded maternal GDM-induced hypermethylation at GNAS DMR and this condition may be among the mechanisms associating maternal GDM with increased risk of metabolic diseases in later life of offspring.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Increased methylation at differentially methylated region of GNASin infants born to gestational diabetes
Authors
Danqing Chen
Aiping Zhang
Min Fang
Rong Fang
Jiamei Ge
Yuan Jiang
Hong Zhang
Cong Han
Xiaoqun Ye
Hefeng Huang
Yun Liu
Minyue Dong
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Genetics / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12881-014-0108-3

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