In this project, we seek to identify novel epigenomic biomarkers on cord blood DNA that could be used to reconstruct at birth obesogenic fetal-life experiences and to profile risks of childhood obesity and related cardio metabolic phenotypes. We will use state-of-art technology for methylomic screenings of ~486K methylation sites on cord blood DNA from Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort with validated prenatal exposures since early pregnancy and multiple collections of child behaviors and phenotypes until age 12. We will first identify DNA methylation signatures correlated with fetal-life obesogenic risk factors, i.e. maternal obesity, high gestational weight gain, and low maternal intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D (Aim 1). We will then characterize DNA methylation signatures predictive of adverse post-natal trajectories of body weight, adiposity and cardio metabolic phenotypes from early life until 12 years of age (Aim 2). Finally, we will confirm the methylomic biomarkers identified in Project Viva in an independent replication set of mother- child pairs from a cohort (Generation R) with similar design and individual characteristics (Aim 3). Our project will also explore 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, an emerging and under-investigated form of DNA methylation, as a fetal-life biomarker. By taking advantage of prospective detailed data collections, we can also explore whether associations identified between methylomics and obesity-related outcomes are attenuated by healthful postnatal behaviors (lower consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food;lower TV/screen time;higher physical activity;age-appropriate sleep duration). If we were to reconstruct at birth the child's risk-factor experience during fetal life, and use such information to predict the risk of developing obesity later in life this would dramatically reduce the lag time before targeted educational and preventive measures can be instituted. The use of cord blood DNA as an epigenetic archive of prenatal environments is supported by recent human findings demonstrating that cord blood DNA methylation captures effects from in-utero exposures. Because it can be collected at birth from every newborn, cord blood DNA is ideal for immediate translation of scientific findings into prevention-directed actions. As the results of fetal programming can only be ascertained years after the exposure, investigating the effects of prenatal risk factors requires longitudinal studie with accurate fetal assessments and prospective repeated child phenotyping. Project Viva and Generation R, in which these measures have been collected, starting in early pregnancy with repeated measures until early adolescence, provide a unique cost-effective opportunity to achieve this objective.

Public Health Relevance

The dramatic rise in obesity rates is an alarming global health trend that consumes an ever increasing portion of our limited health care budgets. During childhood alone, excess weight causes an estimated $3 billion per year in direct medical costs. Because adult-life obesity has its roots in childhood, tackling childhood obesity may represent the most cost-effective strategy to reverse the current obesity trends.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NR013945-02
Application #
8639593
Study Section
Kidney, Nutrition, Obesity and Diabetes Study Section (KNOD)
Program Officer
Tully, Lois
Project Start
2013-03-25
Project End
2016-01-31
Budget Start
2014-02-01
Budget End
2015-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Sharp, Gemma C; Arathimos, Ryan; Reese, Sarah E et al. (2018) Maternal alcohol consumption and offspring DNA methylation: findings from six general population-based birth cohorts. Epigenomics 10:27-42
Huang, Jian V; Cardenas, Andres; Colicino, Elena et al. (2018) DNA methylation in blood as a mediator of the association of mid-childhood body mass index with cardio-metabolic risk score in early adolescence. Epigenetics :1-16
Peng, Cheng; Cardenas, Andres; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L et al. (2018) Epigenome-wide association study of total serum immunoglobulin E in children: a life course approach. Clin Epigenetics 10:55
Tian, Fu-Ying; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L; Cardenas, Andres et al. (2018) Maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone is associated with LEP DNA methylation at birth and in childhood: an epigenome-wide study in Project Viva. Int J Obes (Lond) :
Felix, Janine F; Joubert, Bonnie R; Baccarelli, Andrea A et al. (2018) Cohort Profile: Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium. Int J Epidemiol 47:22-23u
Kresovich, Jacob K; Zheng, Yinan; Cardenas, Andres et al. (2017) Cord blood DNA methylation and adiposity measures in early and mid-childhood. Clin Epigenetics 9:86
Wu, Shaowei; Hivert, Marie-France; Cardenas, Andres et al. (2017) Exposure to Low Levels of Lead in Utero and Umbilical Cord Blood DNA Methylation in Project Viva: An Epigenome-Wide Association Study. Environ Health Perspect 125:087019
Cardenas, Andres; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L; Agha, Golareh et al. (2017) Persistent DNA methylation changes associated with prenatal mercury exposure and cognitive performance during childhood. Sci Rep 7:288
Cardenas, Andres; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L; Godderis, Lode et al. (2017) Prenatal Exposure to Mercury: Associations with Global DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation in Cord Blood and in Childhood. Environ Health Perspect 125:087022
Lee, Kyu Ha; Tadesse, Mahlet G; Baccarelli, Andrea A et al. (2017) Multivariate Bayesian variable selection exploiting dependence structure among outcomes: Application to air pollution effects on DNA methylation. Biometrics 73:232-241

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