Franz Maximilian B, Poterauer Mariella, Elhenicky Marie, Stary Susanne, Birner Peter, Vinatzer Ursula, Husslein Peter, Streubel Berthold, Husslein Heinrich
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014 Aug;179:121-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.05.038. Epub 2014 Jun 4.
To evaluate global and single gene methylation patterns as a sign for epigenetic modulation of the immune system in infants born by elective cesarean section (CS) and vaginal delivery (VD).
For this prospective pilot study a two step approach was chosen. Initially 41 newborn infants comprising 23 delivered by VD and 18 delivered by elective CS were included. Global DNA methylation of umbilical cord blood was determined. In a second step, methylation status of 96 single genes linked to T cell activation, cytokine production, inflammatory response, and stem cell transcription was evaluated in 48 newborn infants, 20 delivered by VD and 28 delivered by CS.
Global methylation did not differ significantly between CS and VD (p=0.732). The methylation status was low (threshold: ≤3%) for the majority of single genes (n=92) in both groups. FOXP3, CD7, ELA2, and IRF1 showed hypermethylation in both groups. In the CS group, ELA2 (p<0.001) and IRF1(p =0.017) showed significantly higher methylation compared to the VD group.
We found no difference in global methylation between newborn infants in the VD group compared to the elective CS group. Methylation of single genes was significantly higher in newborn infants delivered by elective CS. Further research is needed to determine the significance of theses findings.
评估择期剖宫产（CS）和阴道分娩（VD）出生的婴儿的整体和单基因甲基化模式，作为免疫系统表观遗传调控的标志。
对于这项前瞻性试点研究，选择了两步法。最初纳入了41名新生儿，其中23名通过VD分娩，18名通过择期CS分娩。测定脐带血的整体DNA甲基化。第二步，在48名新生儿中评估了与T细胞活化、细胞因子产生、炎症反应和干细胞转录相关的96个单基因的甲基化状态，其中20名通过VD分娩，28名通过CS分娩。
CS组和VD组之间的整体甲基化没有显著差异（p = 0.732）。两组中大多数单基因（n = 92）的甲基化状态较低（阈值：≤3%）。两组中FOXP3、CD7、ELA2和IRF1均表现为高甲基化。在CS组中，ELA2（p < 0.001）和IRF1（p = 0.017）的甲基化显著高于VD组。
我们发现VD组新生儿与择期CS组新生儿在整体甲基化方面没有差异。择期CS分娩的新生儿单基因甲基化显著更高。需要进一步研究来确定这些发现的意义。
