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Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring

Publication ,  Journal Article
Vidal, AC; Murphy, SK; Murtha, AP; Schildkraut, JM; Soubry, A; Huang, Z; Neelon, SEB; Fuemmeler, B; Iversen, E; Wang, F; Kurtzberg, J; Hoyo, C ...
Published in: International Journal of Obesity
2013

Objectives: Low birth weight (LBW) has been associated with common adult-onset chronic diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and some cancers. The etiology of LBW is multi-factorial. However, recent evidence suggests exposure to antibiotics may also increase the risk of LBW. The mechanisms underlying this association are unknown, although epigenetic mechanisms are hypothesized. In this study, we evaluated the association between maternal antibiotic use and LBW and examined the potential role of altered DNA methylation that controls growth regulatory imprinted genes in these associations. Methods: Between 2009-2011, 397 pregnant women were enrolled and followed until delivery. Prenatal antibiotic use was ascertained through maternal self-report. Imprinted genes methylation levels were measured at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) using bisulfite pyrosequencing. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations among antibiotic use, birth weight and DMR methylation fractions. Results: After adjusting for infant gender, race/ethnicity, maternal body mass index, delivery route, gestational weight gain, gestational age at delivery, folic acid intake, physical activity, maternal smoking and parity, antibiotic use during pregnancy was associated with 138 g lower birth weight compared with non-antibiotic use (β-coefficient=-132.99, s.e.=50.70, P=0.008). These associations were strongest in newborns of women who reported antibiotic use other than penicillins (β-coefficient=-135.57, s.e.=57.38, P=0.02). Methylation at five DMRs, IGF2 (P=0.05), H19 (P=0.15), PLAGL1 (P=0.01), MEG3 (P=0.006) and PEG3 (P=0.08), was associated with maternal antibiotic use; among these, only methylation at the PLAGL1 DMR was also associated with birth weight. Conclusion: We report an inverse association between in utero exposure to antibiotics and lower infant birth weight and provide the first empirical evidence supporting imprinted gene plasticity in these associations. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited.

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Published In

International Journal of Obesity

DOI

ISSN

0307-0565

Publication Date

2013

Volume

37

Issue

7

Start / End Page

907 / 913

Related Subject Headings

  • Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 13 Education
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
 

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Vidal, A. C., Murphy, S. K., Murtha, A. P., Schildkraut, J. M., Soubry, A., Huang, Z., … Hoyo, C. (2013). Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring. International Journal of Obesity, 37(7), 907–913. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.47
Vidal, A. C., S. K. Murphy, A. P. Murtha, J. M. Schildkraut, A. Soubry, Z. Huang, S. E. B. Neelon, et al. “Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring.” International Journal of Obesity 37, no. 7 (2013): 907–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.47.
Vidal AC, Murphy SK, Murtha AP, Schildkraut JM, Soubry A, Huang Z, et al. Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring. International Journal of Obesity. 2013;37(7):907–13.
Vidal, A. C., et al. “Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring.” International Journal of Obesity, vol. 37, no. 7, 2013, pp. 907–13. Scival, doi:10.1038/ijo.2013.47.
Vidal AC, Murphy SK, Murtha AP, Schildkraut JM, Soubry A, Huang Z, Neelon SEB, Fuemmeler B, Iversen E, Wang F, Kurtzberg J, Jirtle RL, Hoyo C. Associations between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, birth weight and aberrant methylation at imprinted genes among offspring. International Journal of Obesity. 2013;37(7):907–913.

Published In

International Journal of Obesity

DOI

ISSN

0307-0565

Publication Date

2013

Volume

37

Issue

7

Start / End Page

907 / 913

Related Subject Headings

  • Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 13 Education
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences