Epigenetic scores derived in saliva are associated with gestational age at birth

• Published in: Clinical epigenetics 2024-06, Vol.16 (1), p.84-14, Article 84
• Main Authors: Mckinnon, Katie, Conole, Eleanor L S, Vaher, Kadi, Hillary, Robert F, Gadd, Danni A, Binkowska, Justyna, Sullivan, Gemma, Stevenson, Anna J, Corrigan, Amy, Murphy, Lee, Whalley, Heather C, Richardson, Hilary, Marioni, Riccardo E, Cox, Simon R, Boardman, James P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; C-reactive protein; Cognition; Comorbidity; DNA Methylation - genetics; Dysplasia; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetic; Epigenetic inheritance; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Hypothesis; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Inflammation; Inflammation - genetics; Male; Membrane proteins; Methylation; Neonatal; Pregnancy; Premature Birth - epidemiology; Premature Birth - genetics; Preterm birth; Saliva - chemistry; Social Class; Socioeconomic status
• ISSN: 1868-7083; 1868-7075; 1868-7083
• DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01701-2

Epigenetic scores (EpiScores), reflecting DNA methylation (DNAm)-based surrogates for complex traits, have been developed for multiple circulating proteins. EpiScores for pro-inflammatory proteins, such as C-reactive protein (DNAm CRP), are associated with brain health and cognition in adults and with inflammatory comorbidities of preterm birth in neonates. Social disadvantage can become embedded in child development through inflammation, and deprivation is overrepresented in preterm infants. We tested the hypotheses that preterm birth and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with alterations in a set of EpiScores enriched for inflammation-associated proteins. In total, 104 protein EpiScores were derived from saliva samples of 332 neonates born at gestational age (GA) 22.14 to 42.14 weeks. Saliva sampling was between 36.57 and 47.14 weeks. Forty-three (41%) EpiScores were associated with low GA at birth (standardised estimates |0.14 to 0.88|, Bonferroni-adjusted p-value