Placental multi-omics integration identifies candidate functional genes for birthweight.

ABSTRACT: Abnormal birthweight is associated with increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases in later life. Although the placenta is critical to fetal development and later life health, it has not been integrated into largescale functional genomics initiatives, and mechanisms of birthweight-associated variants identified by genome wide association studies (GWAS) are unclear. The goal of this study is to provide functional mechanistic insight into the causal pathway from a genetic variant to birthweight by integrating placental methylation and gene expression with established GWAS loci for birthweight. We identify placental DNA methylation and gene expression targets for several birthweight GWAS loci. The target genes are broadly enriched in cardiometabolic, immune response, and hormonal pathways. W

SUBMITTER: Tekola-Ayele F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9061712 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature