Abstract
BackgroundPrenatal risk factors are related to poor health and developmental outcomes for infants, potentially via epigenetic mechanisms. We tested associations between person-centered prenatal risk profiles, cumulative prenatal risk models, and epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) in very preterm neonates.MethodsWe studied 542 infants from a multi-center study of infants born < 30 weeks postmenstrual age. We assessed 24 prenatal risk factors via maternal report and medical record review. Latent class analysis was used to define prenatal risk profiles. DNAm was quantified from neonatal buccal cells using the Illumina MethylationEPIC Beadarray.ResultsWe identified three latent profiles of women: a group with few risk factors (61%) and groups with elevated physical (26%) and psychological (13%) risk factors. Neonates born to women in higher risk subgroups had differential DNAm at 2 CpG sites. Higher cumulative prenatal risk was associated with methylation at 15 CpG sites, 12 of which were located in genes previously linked to physical and mental health and neurodevelopment.ConclusionWe observed associations between prenatal risk factors and DNAm in very preterm infants using both person-centered and cumulative risk approaches. Epigenetics offers a potential biological indicator of prenatal risk exposure.
Highlights
Prenatal risk factors are related to poor health and developmental outcomes for infants, potentially via epigenetic mechanisms
We investigated the relationship between prenatal risk factors and DNA methylation (DNAm) using buccal cell specimens in a high-risk population: children born very preterm
Children were included in this analysis if they were enrolled in Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants (NOVI) at birth and had a neonatal buccal swab collected (MPMA = 39.2 weeks)
Summary
Prenatal risk factors are related to poor health and developmental outcomes for infants, potentially via epigenetic mechanisms. Infants born less than 30 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) are at increased risk for adverse health and developmental outcomes. Camerota et al Clin Epigenet (2021) 13:171 pregnancy predict poorer neurobehavioral outcomes in very preterm neonates [11], which in turn are associated with longer term impairments [12]. Sociodemographic risk factors, such as low socioeconomic status, are associated with poor developmental outcomes for very preterm children [13]. Exposure to a greater number or specific combinations of risk factors in the prenatal environment may contribute to the heterogeneous outcomes observed among preterm children
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