Abstract
Preterm Birth (PTB) accounts for approximately 11% of all births worldwide each year and is a profound physiological stressor in early life. The burden of neuropsychiatric and developmental impairment is high, with severity and prevalence correlated with gestational age at delivery. PTB is a major risk factor for the development of cerebral palsy, lower educational attainment and deficits in cognitive functioning, and individuals born preterm have higher rates of schizophrenia, autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Factors such as gestational age at birth, systemic inflammation, respiratory morbidity, sub-optimal nutrition, and genetic vulnerability are associated with poor outcome after preterm birth, but the mechanisms linking these factors to adverse long term outcome are poorly understood. One potential mechanism linking PTB with neurodevelopmental effects is changes in the epigenome. Epigenetic processes can be defined as those leading to altered gene expression in the absence of a change in the underlying DNA sequence and include DNA methylation/ hydroxymethylation and histone modifications. Such epigenetic modifications may be susceptible to environmental stimuli, and changes may persist long after the stimulus has ceased, providing a mechanism to explain the long-term consequences of acute exposures in early life. Many factors such as inflammation, fluctuating oxygenation and excitotoxicity which are known factors in PTB related brain injury, have also been implicated in epigenetic dysfunction. In this review, we will discuss the potential role of epigenetic dysregulation in mediating the effects of PTB on neurodevelopmental outcome, with specific emphasis on DNA methylation and the α-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase family of enzymes.
Keywords: Preterm birth, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Epigenetic, DNA methylation, Epigenetic dysregulation, α-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase.
Graphical Abstract
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Current Genomics in Cardiovascular Research
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the world, in recent years we have had important advances in the interaction between cardiovascular disease and genomics. In this Research Topic, we intend for researchers to present their results with a focus on basic, translational and clinical investigations associated with ...read more
Deep learning in Single Cell Analysis
The field of biology is undergoing a revolution in our ability to study individual cells at the molecular level, and to integrate data from multiple sources and modalities. This has been made possible by advances in technologies for single-cell sequencing, multi-omics profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and high-throughput imaging, as well as ...read more
New insights on Pediatric Tumors and Associated Cancer Predisposition Syndromes
Because of the broad spectrum of children cancer susceptibility, the diagnosis of cancer risk syndromes in children is rarely used in direct cancer treatment. The field of pediatric cancer genetics and genomics will only continue to expand as a result of increasing use of genetic testing tools. It's possible that ...read more
Related Journals
Related Books
Industrial Applications of Soil Microbes
Industrial Applications of Soil Microbes
Algal Biotechnology for Fuel Applications
Omics Technologies for Clinical Diagnosis and Gene Therapy: Medical Applications in Human Genetics
Biopolymers Towards Green and Sustainable Development
Environmental Microbiology: Advanced Research and Multidisciplinary Applications
Biomarkers in Medicine
Industrial Applications of Soil Microbes
Sustainable Utilization of Fungi in Agriculture and Industry
Myconanotechnology: Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development
48
12