Self-reported pregnancy exposures and placental DNA methylation in the MARBLES prospective autism sibling study.

ABSTRACT: Human placenta is a fetal-derived tissue that offers a unique sample of epigenetic and environmental exposures present in utero. In the MARBLES prospective pregnancy study of high-risk younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), pregnancy and environmental factors collected by maternal interviews were examined as predictors of placental DNA methylation, including partially methylated domains (PMDs), an embryonic feature of the placental methylome. DNA methylation data from MethylC-seq analysis of 47 placentas of children clinically diagnosed at 3 years with ASD or typical development using standardized assessments were examined in relation to: child's gestational age, birth-weight, and diagnosis; maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking, education, parity, heig

SUBMITTER: Schmidt RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5538262 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature