title: Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in human amnion.
abstract: The amnion is a specialized tissue in contact with the amniotic fluid, which is in a constantly changing state. To investigate the importance of epigenetic events in this tissue in the physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of human amnion from term (with and without labor) and preterm deliveries. Using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip, we identified genes exhibiting differential methylation associated with normal labor and preterm birth. Functional analysis of the differentially methylated genes revealed biologically relevant enriched gene sets. Bisulfite sequencing analysis of the promoter region of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene detected two CpG dinucleotides showing significant methylation differences among the three groups of samples. Hypermethylation of the CpG island of the solute carrier family 30 member 3 (SLC30A3) gene in preterm amnion was confirmed by methylation-specific PCR. This work provides preliminary evidence that DNA methylation changes in the amnion may be at least partially involved in the physiological process of labor and the etiology of preterm birth and suggests that DNA methylation profiles, in combination with other biological data, may provide valuable insight into the mechanisms underlying normal and pathological pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, 500 Newton Road, 2182 ML, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Jinsil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mitchell M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pitlick
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Christine
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saleme
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Comas
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gadow
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods*; D056426:Genetic Loci; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C569600:OXTR protein, human; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; C102806:SLC30A3 protein, human