Vilahur, N; Bustamante, M; Morales, Eva; Motta, V; Fatima Fernandez, M; Andres Salas, L; Escaramis, G; Ballester, F; Murcia, M; Tardon, A; Riano, I; Santa-Marina, L; Ibarluzea, J; Pedro Arrebola, J; Estivill, X; Bollati, V; Sunyer, J; Olea, N
BACKGROUND: In utero exposure to xenostrogens may modify the epigenome. We explored the association of prenatal exposure to mixtures of xenoestrogens and genome-wide placental DNA methylation.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Sex-specific associations between methylation changes in placental DNA by doubling the concentration of TEXB-alpha exposure were evaluated by robust multiple linear regression. Two CpG sites were selected for validation and replication in additional male born placentas.
RESULTS: No significant associations were found, although the top significant CpGs in boys were located in the LRPAP1, HAGH, PPARGC1B, KCNQ1 and KCNQ1DN genes, previously associated to birth weight, Type 2 diabetes, obesity or steroid hormone signaling. Neither technical validation nor biological replication of the results was found in boys for LRPAP and PPARGC1B.
CONCLUSION: Some suggestive genes were differentially methylated in boys in relation to prenatal xenoestrogen exposure, but our initial findings could not be validated or replicated.