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Sexual dimorphism in epigenomic responses of stem cells to extreme fetal growth

Author

Listed:
  • Fabien Delahaye

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • N. Ari Wijetunga

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • Hye J. Heo

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • Jessica N. Tozour

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • Yong Mei Zhao

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • John M. Greally

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • Francine H. Einstein

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Abstract

Extreme fetal growth is associated with increased susceptibility to a range of adult diseases through an unknown mechanism of cellular memory. We tested whether heritable epigenetic processes in long-lived CD34+ haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells showed evidence for re-programming associated with the extremes of fetal growth. Here we show that both fetal growth restriction and over-growth are associated with global shifts towards DNA hypermethylation, targeting cis-regulatory elements in proximity to genes involved in glucose homeostasis and stem cell function. We find a sexually dimorphic response; intrauterine growth restriction is associated with substantially greater epigenetic dysregulation in males, whereas large for gestational age growth predominantly affects females. The findings are consistent with extreme fetal growth interacting with variable fetal susceptibility to influence cellular ageing and metabolic characteristics through epigenetic mechanisms, potentially generating biomarkers that could identify infants at higher risk for chronic disease later in life.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabien Delahaye & N. Ari Wijetunga & Hye J. Heo & Jessica N. Tozour & Yong Mei Zhao & John M. Greally & Francine H. Einstein, 2014. "Sexual dimorphism in epigenomic responses of stem cells to extreme fetal growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6187
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6187
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