Livio Provenzi1, Pietro De Carli1, Monica Fumagalli2, Roberto Giorda3, Sharon Casavant4, Silvana Beri3, Andrea Citterio3, Amy D'Agata5, Francesco Morandi6, Fabio Mosca2, Renato Borgatti7, Rosario Montirosso1. 1. 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 238422, Bosisio Parini, Italy. 2. NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 201223, Milan, Italy. 3. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 238424, Bosisio Parini, Italy. 4. School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 060325, USA. 5. College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 028816, USA. 6. Pediatric Unit, Sacra Famiglia Hospital, Erba, 220367, Italy. 7. Neuropsychiatry & Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 238422, Bosisio Parini, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: Recent findings show that DNA methylation is susceptible to very preterm (VPT) birth and to the experience of the early stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of the study was to compare PLAGL1 methylation between VPT and full-term (FT) infants at birth as well as between VPT infants at discharge and FT infants at birth. METHODS: DNA was collected from cord blood of 56 VPT and 27 FT infants at birth and from peripheral blood in VPT infants at neonatal intensive care unit discharge. Sociodemographic and neonatal variables were considered. RESULTS: PLAGL1 methylation at birth and at discharge were highly correlated in VPT infants. Lower methylation emerged in VPT infants at birth and discharge compared to FT counterparts. CONCLUSION: PLAGL1 hypomethylation emerged as a potential epigenetic mark of VPT birth. Future research is warranted to assess the functional consequences of PLAGL1 diminished methylation in VPT infants' development.
AIM: Recent findings show that DNA methylation is susceptible to very preterm (VPT) birth and to the experience of the early stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of the study was to compare PLAGL1 methylation between VPT and full-term (FT) infants at birth as well as between VPT infants at discharge and FT infants at birth. METHODS: DNA was collected from cord blood of 56 VPT and 27 FT infants at birth and from peripheral blood in VPT infants at neonatal intensive care unit discharge. Sociodemographic and neonatal variables were considered. RESULTS:PLAGL1 methylation at birth and at discharge were highly correlated in VPT infants. Lower methylation emerged in VPT infants at birth and discharge compared to FT counterparts. CONCLUSION:PLAGL1 hypomethylation emerged as a potential epigenetic mark of VPT birth. Future research is warranted to assess the functional consequences of PLAGL1 diminished methylation in VPT infants' development.