Massimiliano Bergallo1,2, Ilaria Galliano1,2, Valentina Daprà1, Alice Pirra3, Paola Montanari1,2, Marzia Pavan4, Cristina Calvi1,2, Enrico Bertino2,3, Alessandra Coscia2,3, Pier-Angelo Tovo1. 1. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Citoimmunodiagnostics Laboratory, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy. 2. Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 3. Complex Structure Neonatology Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric, University of Turin, Torino, Italy. 4. Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Transcription of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements is usually suppressed by epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and heterochromatin silencing by histone modifications. There is an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and DNA methylation levels in placental tissue and in DNA from cord blood. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the transcriptional activity of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W in umbilical cord blood from 47 term babies unexposed to tobacco smoke in utero and 23 term babies exposed to tobacco smoke in utero. RESULTS: In our population, the HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W families were always transcriptionally active, and the levels of all HERVs (H, K, W) were significantly higher in unexposed than smoke-exposed babies. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary information about the transcriptional activity of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W families in human umbilical cord blood. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
OBJECTIVE: Transcription of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements is usually suppressed by epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and heterochromatin silencing by histone modifications. There is an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and DNA methylation levels in placental tissue and in DNA from cord blood. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the transcriptional activity of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W in umbilical cord blood from 47 term babies unexposed to tobacco smoke in utero and 23 term babies exposed to tobacco smoke in utero. RESULTS: In our population, the HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W families were always transcriptionally active, and the levels of all HERVs (H, K, W) were significantly higher in unexposed than smoke-exposed babies. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary information about the transcriptional activity of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W families in human umbilical cord blood. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.