Effect of the one‑carbon unit cycle on overall DNA methylation in children with Down's syndrome.
DNA methylation is a major epigenetic mechanism regulating gene expression. In order to analyze the impact of the one‑carbon unit cycle on the overall level of DNA methylation in children with Down's syndrome (DS), the levels of indicators associated with the one‑carbon unit cycle, including folic acid (FA), vitamin B12 (VB12) and homocysteine (Hcy), and the overall DNA methylation level of DS and healthy controls (HCs) were determined in the present study. A total of 36 DS children and 40 age‑ and gender‑matched HCs were included in the present study to determine the levels of FA, VB12, Hcy and overall DNA methylation. The effect of the one‑carbon unit cycle on the overall level of DNA methylation within the DS group was analyzed. The results demonstrated that the level of VB12 was decreased (P=0.008), while the Hcy level was increased (P=0.000) in DS patients compared with the HCs. FA and VB12 levels decreased with increasing age in DS patients (P<0.05). DNA hypermethylation and hypomethylation were observed in DS patients with VB12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively (P=0.031, P=0.021). Abnormalities in the one‑carbon unit cycle tend to worsen with increasing age in DS children. Thus, one‑carbon unit cycle‑associated alterations in DNA methylation may be important in the neuropathological alterations observed in DS.
Children Nutrition Research Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009 CA5002, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Cui
C
Song
Children Nutrition Research Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009 CA5002, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Jingyi
J
He
Children Nutrition Research Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009 CA5002, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Jie
J
Chen
Children Nutrition Research Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009 CA5002, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Youxue
Y
Liu
Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Feng
F
Xiong
Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Yutian
Y
Wang
Children Nutrition Research Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009 CA5002, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, P.R. China.
Tingyu
T
Li
D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D002244:Carbon; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12