How Placenta Thickness Affects the Link Between AKIP1 Methylation and Small for Gestational Age Babies
Author Information
Author(s): Zhu Huimin, Wei Min, Liu Xuemei, Li Xiuxiu, Liu Xuhua, Chen Weiqing, Giardina Emiliano
Primary Institution: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Hypothesis
Changes in AKIP1 DNAm could contribute to the failure of uterine spiral arteries’ remodeling and implantation of the placenta, inducing poor fetal growth.
Conclusion
Placental thickness mediates the association between AKIP1 methylation in maternal blood and the risk of full-term small for gestational age neonates.
Supporting Evidence
- For every increment in standard deviation in the DNAm of CpG4 at AKIP1, the risk of FT-SGA elevated by 2.01-fold.
- The thickness of the placenta significantly decreased by a 0.19 standard deviation.
- Placental thickness mediated 22.96% of the effect of the DNAm of CpG4 at AKIP1 on the risk of FT-SGA.
Takeaway
This study found that how thick the placenta is can change the effect of a specific gene's methylation on whether a baby is small for its age.
Methodology
This case-control study included 84 full-term small for gestational age (FT-SGA) and 84 full-term appropriate for gestational age (FT-AGA) neonates, analyzing DNA methylation and placental characteristics.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study being conducted in a single hospital, limiting generalizability.
Limitations
The study's statistical power was limited due to the small sample size, and the effects of cell type variability in blood samples were not adjusted.
Participant Demographics
Participants included mothers with a gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks, matched by pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, and gestational age.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95%CI = 1.39~3.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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