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Population DNA methylation studies in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework

Part of: DOHaD 2017 World Congress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2018

J. F. Felix  and
C. A. M. Cecil
J. F. Felix*
Affiliation:
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
C. A. M. Cecil
Affiliation:
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: J. F. Felix, The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: j.felix@erasmusmc.nl
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Abstract

Epigenetic changes represent a potential mechanism underlying associations of early-life exposures and later life health outcomes. Population-based cohort studies starting in early life are an attractive framework to study the role of such changes. DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mechanism in population research. We discuss the application of DNA methylation in early-life population studies, some recent findings, key challenges and recommendations for future research. Studies into DNA methylation within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework generally either explore associations between prenatal exposures and offspring DNA methylation or associations between offspring DNA methylation in early life and later health outcomes. Only a few studies to date have integrated prospective exposure, epigenetic and phenotypic data in order to explicitly test the role of DNA methylation as a potential biological mediator of environmental effects on health outcomes. Population epigenetics is an emerging field which has challenges in terms of methodology and interpretation of the data. Key challenges include tissue specificity, cell type adjustment, issues of power and comparability of findings, genetic influences, and exploring causality and functional consequences. Ongoing studies are working on addressing these issues. Large collaborative efforts of prospective cohorts are emerging, with clear benefits in terms of optimizing power and use of resources, and in advancing methodology. In the future, multidisciplinary approaches, within and beyond longitudinal birth and preconception cohorts will advance this complex, but highly promising, the field of research.

Keywords

cohort studiesDNA methylationepidemiologyepigeneticsmolecular
Type
Review
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , June 2019 , pp. 306 - 313
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2018 

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