Correlation among maternal risk factors, gene methylation and disease severity in females with autism spectrum disorder.

Abstract

Aim: To detect early-life environmental factors leading to DNA methylation changes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related genes in young ASD females and reveal epigenetic biomarkers of disease severity. Materials & methods: We investigated blood methylation levels of MECP2, OXTR, BDNF, RELN, BCL2, EN2 and HTR1A genes in 42 ASD females. Results: Maternal gestational weight gain correlated with BDNF methylation levels (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.034), and lack of folic acid supplementation at periconception resulted in higher disease severity in the ASD children (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.048). RELN methylation levels were inversely correlated with disease severity (Bonferroni corrected p = 0.042). Conclusion: The present study revealed gene-environment interactions and potential epigenetic biomarkers of disease severity in ASD females.

• Authors: Roberta Gallo, Andrea Stoccoro, Romina Cagiano, Vanessa Nicolì, Rosanna Ricciardi, Raffaella Tancredi, Rosanna Trovato, Filippo Maria Santorelli, Sara Calderoni, Filippo Muratori, Lucia Migliore, Fabio Coppedè
• Journal: Epigenomics (Epigenomics) Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. 175-185 (02 2022) ISSN: 1750-192X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35081728 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (genetics)
• Child
• DNA Methylation
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Female
• Humans
• Risk Factors
• Severity of Illness Index