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Pediatrics

Associations between obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood and newborn adiposity: findings from the Araraquara Cohort study

International Journal of Obesity volume 45, pages 1958–1966 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Genes involved in the regulation of metabolism, adipose tissue deposition, inflammation, and the appetite-satiety axis may play an important role in fetal development, and possibly induce permanent metabolic changes and fat accumulation. In this study we investigated: (1) obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood of overweight/obese and normal-weight pregnant women; (2) associations between obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood; and (3) associations of gene expression in each of maternal and cord blood with newborn adiposity.

Subjects/methods

Twenty-five overweight/obese and 32 normal-weight pregnant women were selected from the Araraquara Cohort Study according to their pre-pregnancy BMI. Maternal and cord blood gene expression of LEPR, STAT3, PPARG, TLR4, IL-6, IL-10, FTO, MC4R, TNF-α, and NFκB were investigated by relative real-time PCR quantification. The body composition of the newborns was assessed by air displacement plethysmography. Associations between maternal and cord blood gene expression and markers of newborn adiposity (weight, BMI, and fat mass%) were explored by linear regression models controlling for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal gestational weight gain, gestational age, and newborn sex.

Results

There was higher TLR4, NFκB, and TNF-a expression, and lower IL-6 expression, in overweight/obese pregnant women and their respective newborns compared with normal-weight women and their newborns (p < 0.001). Maternal PPARG gene expression was associated with both weight and fat mass % of the newborns, and cord blood IL-10 expression was associated with BMI and fat mass %, controlling for confounders.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship of maternal and cord blood gene expression with adiposity markers of the newborn. Our results provide evidence for the contribution of maternal and cord blood gene expression—particularly maternal PPARG and TLR4 expression, and cord blood IL-10 expression—to newborn weight, BMI, and fat mass %.

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Fig. 1: Gene expression data.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Prof. Walter Manso Figueiredo and Prof. Angela Aparecida Costa for assistance in data collection, and the Health Secretary of Araraquara for allowing us to carry out the research in the city.

Funding

This study was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant number 2015/03333-6). PN received an MPH scholarship from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). NND and PPA received Post-Doctorate and Doctorate scholarships from FAPESP, grant numbers 2017/07143-2 and 2018/17824-0, respectively. FAPESP and CAPES had no role in the design, analysis, or writing of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    P. Nakandakare, P. P. Argentato, N. N. Dejani, L. A. Luzia, M. M. Rogero & P. H. C. Rondó

  2. Laboratory of Nutrigenomics Studies, Department of Health Science, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    C. F. Nicoletti & C. B. Nonino

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    N. Y. Noronha

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  1. P. Nakandakare
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Contributions

PHCR, PN, and CBN designed the research; PN, PPA, and NND collected the data; LAL and PHCR coordinated the fieldwork; PN, CFN, NYN, and CBN performed the laboratory work; PN, CFN, NYN, CBN, and PHCR were responsible for data management and performing analyses; PN, CFN, NYN, CBN, MMR, and PHCR interpreted the data; CFN wrote the first draft of the manuscript; CFN, PHCR, and CBN revised each draft for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to P. H. C. Rondó.

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Nakandakare, P., Nicoletti, C.F., Noronha, N.Y. et al. Associations between obesity-related gene expression in maternal and cord blood and newborn adiposity: findings from the Araraquara Cohort study. Int J Obes 45, 1958–1966 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00857-8

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