Duration of pregnancy: This changes the DNA
Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, together with an international team, have investigated the relationship between the duration of pregnancy and chemical DNA changes in more than 6,000 newborns. Over a longer gestational age, they have noticed changes in DNA methylation in thousands of genes in the umbilical cord blood every week.
Relationships with the duration of pregnancy
Premature babies before the 37th week of pregnancy usually happen frequently. Between 5 and 10% of all children in the world are born prematurely. Most of them develop and therefore grow normally. However, premature births are also associated with respiratory and pulmonary diseases, eye problems and neurological development disorders. This applies especially to children who were born very or extremely early.
During the fetal period, epigenetic processes, or the chemical modification of DNA, are important for the control of development and growth. One such epigenetic factor is DNA methylation. This in turn influences the degree of gene activation and the formation of a certain protein.
“Our new findings indicate that these DNA changes can influence the development of fetal organs,” says Simon Kebede Merid. He is the first author of this study and a PhD student at the Karolinska Institutet in the Department of Clinical Science and Education. The majority of DNA methylations observed at birth did not persist in childhood. In 17%, however, the values were completely stable from birth to puberty. The levels with certain genes thus track age.
“Now we have to investigate whether the DNA changes are related to the health problems of the premature babies,” says Professor Erik Melén, who works at the same institute.
Medical perspectives
Epigenetics is a hot research topic that connects genes, the environment and health. This work was carried out as part of the international PACE consortium (Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics). The research represents contributions from 26 studies. Professor Melén's group also contributed to the first paper. This showed that drinking or smoking during pregnancy changed the DNA in newborns and conducted two PACE studies that showed the effects of air pollution. Relationships to diseases such as asthma, allergies, obesity and even aging have also been shown.
“We hope that our new findings from the study will provide valuable knowledge about fetal development and, in the long term, new opportunities for better care for premature babies to avoid complications and adverse health effects,” said Erik Melén.
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