Preterm Birth and Its Long-Term Effects: Methylation to Mechanisms

Biology

Sasha E. Parets²  Carrie E. Bedient¹  Ramkumar Menon³ 

[1] Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; E-Mail:;Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; E-Mail:;Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: DNA methylation;    preterm birth;    pregnancy;    DOHaD;    epigenetic;    developmental programming;    gestational age;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biology3030498

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The epigenetic patterns established during development may influence gene expression over a lifetime and increase susceptibility to chronic disease. Being born preterm (<37 weeks of gestation) is associated with increased risk mortality and morbidity from birth until adulthood. This brief review explores the potential role of DNA methylation in preterm birth (PTB) and its possible long-term consequences and provides an overview of the physiological processes central to PTB and recent DNA methylation studies of PTB.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.