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Genome‐wide DNA methylation profiling identifies a folate‐sensitive region of differential methylation upstream of ZFP57 ‐imprinting regulator in humans
Author(s) -
Amarasekera Manori,
Martino David,
Ashley Sarah,
Harb Hani,
Kesper Dörthe,
Strickland Deborah,
Saffery Richard,
Prescott Susan L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.13-249029
Subject(s) - dna methylation , biology , methylation , genomic imprinting , epigenetics , differentially methylated regions , microbiology and biotechnology , in utero , genetics , gene expression , fetus , dna , gene , pregnancy
Folate intake during pregnancy may affect the regulation of DNA methylation during fetal development. The genomic regions in the offspring that may be sensitive to folate exposure during in utero development have not been characterized. Using genome‐scale profiling, we investigated DNA methylation in 2 immune cell types (CD4 + and antigen‐presenting cells) isolated from neonatal cord blood, selected on the basis of in utero folate exposure. High‐folate (HF; n =11) and low‐folate (LF; n =12) groups were selected from opposite extremes of maternal serum folate levels measured in the last trimester of pregnancy. A comparison of these groups revealed differential methylation at 7 regions across the genome. By far, the biggest effect observed was hypomethylation of a 923 bp region 3 kb upstream of the ZFP57 transcript, a regulator of DNA methylation during development, observed in both cell types. Levels of H3/H4 acetylation at ZFP57 promoter and ZFP57 mRNA expression were higher in CD4 + cells in the HF group relative to the LF group. Hypomethylation at this region was replicated in an independent sample set. These data suggest that exposure to folate has effects on the regulation of DNA methylation during fetal development, and this may be important for health and disease.—Amarasekera, M., Martino, D., Ashley, S., Harb, H., Kesper, D., Strickland, D., Saffery, R., Prescott, S. L. Genome‐wide DNA methylation profiling identifies a folate‐sensitive region of differential methylation upstream of ZFP57 ‐imprinting regulator in humans. FASEB J. 28, 4068‐4076 (2014). www.fasebj.org