title: Preterm birth and its long-term effects: methylation to mechanisms.
abstract: The epigenetic patterns established during development may influence gene expression over a lifetime and increase susceptibility to chronic disease. Being born preterm (<37 weeks of gestation) is associated with increased risk mortality and morbidity from birth until adulthood. This brief review explores the potential role of DNA methylation in preterm birth (PTB) and its possible long-term consequences and provides an overview of the physiological processes central to PTB and recent DNA methylation studies of PTB.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. sparets@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Sasha E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Parets
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. carrie.bedient@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bedient
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. ra2menon@UTMB.edu.
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. alicia.smith@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Alicia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smith