450K epigenome-wide scan identifies differential DNA methylation in newborns related to maternal smoking during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, due to in utero exposures may play a critical role in early programming for childhood and adult illness. Maternal smoking is a major risk factor for multiple adverse health outcomes in children, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Objective

We investigated epigenome-wide methylation in cord blood of newborns in relation to maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Methods

We examined maternal plasma cotinine (an objective biomarker of smoking) measured during pregnancy in relation to DNA methylation at 473,844 CpG sites (CpGs) in 1,062 newborn cord blood samples from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (450K).

Results

We found differentia

SUBMITTER: Joubert BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3491949 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature