11p15 DNA-methylation analysis in monozygotic twins with discordant intrauterine development due to severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prenatal growth restriction and low birth weight have been linked to long-term alterations of health, presumably via adaptive modifications of the epigenome. Recent studies indicate a plasticity of the 11p15 epigenotype in response to environmental changes during early stages of human development.

Study design

We analyzed methylation levels at different 11p15 loci in 20 growth-discordant monozygotic twin pairs. Intrauterine development was discordant due to severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which was treated by fetoscopic laser coagulation of communicating vessels before 25 weeks of gestation. Methylation levels at age 4 were determined in blood and buccal cell-derived DNA by the single nucleotide primer extension reaction ion pair reverse-phase hig

SUBMITTER: Schreiner F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3986638 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature