title: Associations between changes in the maternal gut microbiome and differentially methylated regions of diabetes-associated genes in fetuses: A pilot study from a birth cohort study.
abstract: Several intrauterine environmental factors can increase the future risk of type 2 diabetes. The microbiome can influence the balance between health and disease. However, the influence of the maternal gut microbiome on the future risk of diabetes in the fetus is unknown. The present study investigated the associations between maternal gut microbiome and differentially methylated regions of diabetes-associated genes in umbilical cord samples. The present study included 10 pregnant participants from a birth cohort study. 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid metagenome analysis of maternal stool samples and deoxyribonucleic acid methylation assays of umbilical cord samples were carried out. The present study found that changes in the UBE2E2 and KCNQ1 methylation rates in umbilical cord samples were associated with the proportion of Firmicutes in the maternal gut, albeit with marginal correlations after adjustment for age and body mass index. These findings suggest a link between the methylation of diabetes-associated genes in fetuses and maternal microbiota components during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaso
authors.affiliation: Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; C106347:UBE2E2 protein, human; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
keywords: Deoxyribonucleic methylation; Microbiome; Umbilical cord