DNA methylation differences at birth after conception through assisted reproductive technologies
Abstract
Summary The possible health consequences of assisted reproductive technology (ART) are a topic of intense study. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as changes in DNA methylation (DNAm), come forward from animal studies as a potential mechanism linking ART and health. Here we report on an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of DNAm in cord blood of 87 infants conceived with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and 70 who were not. We found no difference in global methylation levels, but identified nineteen CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) associated with ART (effect estimates: 0.5-4.9%). There was no difference between IVF and ICSI and the CpGs map to genes related to brain function/development or the plethora of conditions linked to subfertility. Functional annotation did not point to likely functional consequences. Concluding, ART is associated with DNA methylation differences in cord blood, but these differences are limited in number, effect size and with unknown functional consequences.
Authors 11
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Leiden University Medical Center · Erasmus MC
Affiliation as printed
Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center
Periconceptional Epidemiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam
Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 300RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Periconceptional Epidemiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 305GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet
Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Danderyds sjukhus · Karolinska Institutet
Affiliation as printed
Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd hospital, Karolinska Institutet
Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd hospital, Karolinska Institutet 182 88 Stockholm Sweden
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Danderyds sjukhus · Karolinska Institutet
Affiliation as printed
Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd hospital, Karolinska Institutet
Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd hospital, Karolinska Institutet 182 88 Stockholm Sweden
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Uppsala University · Carl von Linné Clinic
Affiliation as printed
Carl von Linné Clinic
Center for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala, University of Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala University
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University
Carl von Linné Clinic, Uppsala, Sweden
Center for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala, University of Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 51 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Affiliation as printed
Livio Fertilitetscentrum Kungsholmen
Livio Fertilitetscentrum Kungsholmen, S:t Görans Sjukhus, 112 81 Stockholm, Sweden
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Affiliation as printed
Livio Fertilitetscentrum Gärdet Storängsvägen
Livio Fertilitetscentrum Gärdet Storängsvägen 10, 5 42 Stockholm
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center
Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 300RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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