Cesarean delivery and blood DNA methylation at birth and childhood: Meta-analysis in the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium.

View Abstract

Children born via cesarean delivery have a higher risk of metabolic, immunological, and neurodevelopmental disorders compared to those born via vaginal delivery, although mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies to examine the associations between delivery mode and blood DNA methylation at birth and its persistence in early childhood. Participants were from 19 pregnancy cohorts (9833 term newborns) and 6 pediatric cohorts (2429 children aged 6 to 10 years). We identified six CpGs in cord blood associated with cesarean delivery (effect size range: 0.4 to 0.7%, < 1.0 × 10): (cg19423175), (cg01500140), (cg13917614), (cg18247172), (cg22348356), and (cg20674490), independent of cell proportions and other confounders. In childhood, none of these CpGs were associated with cesarean delivery, and no additional CpGs were identified. Delivery mode was associated with cell proportions at birth but not in childhood. Further research is needed to elucidate cesarean delivery's molecular influence on offspring health.

Investigators
Abbreviation
Sci Adv
Publication Date
2024-11-27
Volume
10
Issue
48
Page Numbers
eadr2084
Pubmed ID
39602535
Medium
Print-Electronic
Full Title
Cesarean delivery and blood DNA methylation at birth and childhood: Meta-analysis in the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium.
Authors
Wang S, Casey E, Sordillo J, Aguilar-Lacasaña S, Morales Berstein F, Biedrzycki RJ, Brescianini S, Chen S, Hough A, Isaevska E, Kim WJ, Lecorguillé M, Li SS, Page CM, Park J, Röder S, Salontaji K, Santorelli G, Sun Y, Won S, Zillich E, Zillich L, Annesi-Maesano I, Arshad SH, Bustamante M, Cecil CAM, Elliott HR, Ewart S, Felix JF, Gagliardi L, Håberg SE, Herberth G, Heude B, Holloway JW, Huels A, Karmaus W, Koppelman GH, London SJ, Mumford SL, Nisticò L, Popovic M, Rusconi F, Schisterman EF, Stein DJ, Send T, Tiemeier H, Vonk JM, Vrijheid M, Wiemels JL, Witt SH, Wright J, Yeung EH, Zar HJ, Zenclussen AC, Zhang H, Chavarro JE, Hivert MF