Kang J, et al. – This study was undertaken to compare the whole–genome DNA methylation variation in gestational diabetes exposed and non–exposed population, including maternal and fetal aspect. It was noted that the high–throughput platform enabled us to evaluate methylation sites throughout the genome and distinguish the most promising genes and pathways associated with gestational diabetes mellitus, (GDM).

Methods

• In this research, both maternal and cord blood samples were collected from 16 pregnant women and their newborns, including eight exposed to GDM.
• They diagnosed GDM via a 75g oral glucose tolerance test, (OGTT) at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy.
• They further assessed DNA methylation at 841,573 CpG sites via the Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip.
• They performed an ingenuity pathway analysis to distinguish genes and pathways epigenetically affected by GDM.

Results

• As per the data, the top 200 loci and their corresponding genes in the maternal blood group, (n=151) and cord blood group, (n=167), both of which were methylated differently in the GDM and unexposed group were identified.
• They distinguished metabolic disease–related pathways and molecules, such as interleukin–6 and interleukin–10 in both groups.
• The outcomes indicated that GDM has epigenetic impacts on both mother and their offspring, which might result in future metabolic syndromes or diabetes.