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Pediatrics

Methylation of the C19MC microRNA locus in the placenta: association with maternal and chilhood body size

International Journal of Obesity volume 44, pages 13–22 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To study DNA methylation at the C19MC locus in the placenta and its association with (1) parental body size, (2) transmission of haplotypes for the C19MC rs55765443 SNP, and (3) offspring’s body size and/or body composition at birth and in childhood.

Subjects and methods

Seventy-two pregnant women-infant pairs and 63 fathers were included in the study. Weight and height of mothers, fathers and newborns were registered during pregnancy or at birth (n = 72). Placental DNA methylation at the C19MC imprinting control region (ICR) was quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Genotyping of the SNP was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The children’s body size and composition were reassessed at age 6 years (n = 32).

Results

Lower levels of placental C19MC methylation were associated with increased body size of mother, specifically with higher pregestational and predelivery weights and height of the mother (β from –0.294 to –0.371; R2 from 0.04 to 0.10 and all p < 0.019), and with higher weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and fat mass of the child (β from –0.428 to –0.552; R2 from 0.33 to 0.56 and all p < 0.009). Parental transmission of the SNP did not correlate with an altered placental methylation status at the C19MC ICR.

Conclusions

Increased maternal size is associated with reduced placental C19MC methylation, which, in turn, relate to larger body size of the child.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all the children and parents who participated in the study. AP-P was granted with CAS14/00011 (Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport). SX-T holds a Sara Borrell contract from Carlos III National Institute of Health (ISCIII; CD15-00162). GC-B was granted a pFIS contract from ISCIII. BM-P holds a contract from Generalitat de Catalunya (SLT002/16/00065). JB is a Miguel Servet investigator from ISCIII (MS12/03239). FDZ is a Senior Investigator of the Clinical Research Fund of the Leuven University Hospital. LI is a Clinical Investigator of CIBERDEM (Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders) from ISCIII. AL-B is an I3 investigator (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). This study was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain (PI17/00557 to JB, and PI13/01257 and PI16/01335 to AL-B), projects co-funded by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional). RF and MG acknowledge grant funding from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (Equipes FRM, grant number DEQ31703).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Anna Prats-Puig, Sílvia Xargay-Torrent

  2. These authors contributed equally: Feil Robert, Abel López-Bermejo

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Girona Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBGI), Salt, Spain

    Anna Prats-Puig, Sílvia Xargay-Torrent, Gemma Carreras-Badosa, Berta Mas-Parés, Judit Bassols & Abel López-Bermejo

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University of Girona, Salt Girona, Spain

    Anna Prats-Puig

  3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Clive J. Petry & David B. Dunger

  4. Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Michael Girardot & Robert Feil

  5. Department of Development & Regeneration, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Francis D.E. Zegher

  6. Endocrinology, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues, Spain

    Lourdes Ibáñez

  7. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain

    Lourdes Ibáñez

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital, Girona, Spain

    Abel López-Bermejo

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  1. Anna Prats-Puig
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Correspondence to Abel López-Bermejo.

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Prats-Puig, A., Xargay-Torrent, S., Carreras-Badosa, G. et al. Methylation of the C19MC microRNA locus in the placenta: association with maternal and chilhood body size. Int J Obes 44, 13–22 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0450-9

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