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Last Posted: May 09, 2024
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Placental DNA methylation signatures of prenatal air pollution exposure and potential effects on birth outcomes: an analysis of three prospective cohorts

From the abstract: "Pregnancy air pollution exposure (PAPE) has been linked to a wide range of adverse birth and childhood outcomes, but there is a paucity of data on its influence on the placental epigenome, which can regulate the programming of physiological functions and affect child development. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal air pollutant exposure concentrations and changes in placental DNA methylation patterns, and to explore the potential windows of susceptibility and sex-specific alterations. "

Pregnancy advances your 'biological' age - but giving birth turns it back.
Saima Sidik et al. Nature 2024 3

From the article: " DNA-methylation patterns can be used to estimate a person’s ‘biological age’, which reflects the physiological stresses that a person’s body has accrued over time. Some research has found that biological age is a better predictor of health problems such as cardiovascular disease3 and dementia4 than a person’s chronological age. Pregnancy may lead to changes in the distribution of certain chemical markers on a pregnant person’s DNA — changes similar to those that are a hallmark of getting older. But new research shows that, several months after a person gives birth, the chemical patterns revert to an earlier state. The results strengthen previous preliminary results in humans. "

Health-Related quality of life and DNA Methylation-Based aging biomarkers among survivors of childhood cancer.
Noel-Marie Plonski et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024 3

From the abstract: "Childhood cancer survivors are at high risk for morbidity and mortality and poor patient-reported outcomes, typically health-related-quality-of-life (HRQOL). However, associations between DNA methylation (DNAm)-based aging biomarkers and HRQOL have not been evaluated. DNAm was generated with Infinium EPIC BeadChip on blood-derived DNA (median[range] for age at blood draw?=?34.5[18.5-66.6] years) and HRQOL was assessed with age at survey (32.3[18.4-64.5] years) from 2,206 survivors in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort. "

Epigenome-wide association studies of prenatal maternal mental health and infant epigenetic profiles: a systematic review.
Emily Drzymalla et al. Transl Psychiatry 2023 12 (1) 377

From the abstract: "Prenatal stress and poor maternal mental health are associated with adverse offspring outcomes; however, the biological mechanisms are unknown. Epigenetic modification has linked maternal health with offspring development. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have examined offspring DNA methylation profiles for association with prenatal maternal mental health to elucidate mechanisms of these complex relationships. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive, systematic review of EWASs of infant epigenetic profiles and prenatal maternal anxiety, depression, or depression treatment. "


Disclaimer: Articles listed in the Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base are selected by the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics to provide current awareness of the literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the update, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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