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Transient epigenomic changes during pregnancy and early postpartum in women with and without type 2 diabetes

  • Agnes A. Michalczyk
  • , Edward D. Janus
  • , Alisha Judge
  • , Peter R. Ebeling
  • , James D. Best
  • , Michael J. Ackland
  • , Dino Asproloupos
  • , James A. Dunbar
  • , M. Leigh Ackland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Aim: To investigate epigenomic changes in pregnancy and early postpartum in women with and without type 2 diabetes. Methods: Dimethylation of histones H3K4, H3K9, H3K27, H3K36 and H3K79 was measured in white blood cells of women at 30 weeks pregnancy, at 8-10 and 20 weeks postpartum and in never-pregnant women. Results: Dimethylation levels of all five histones were different between women in pregnancy and early postpartum compared with never-pregnant women and were different between women with and without type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: Histone methylation changes are transient in pregnancy and early postpartum and may represent normal physiological responses to hormones. Different epigenomic profiles in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus may correlate with hormonal responses, leading to high risk pregnancy outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)419-431
Number of pages13
JournalEpigenomics
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • histone methylation
  • pregnancy
  • type 2 diabetes mellitus

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