Developmental dynamics of the epigenome: A longitudinal study of three toddlers

Publication date: Available online 13 December 2017 Source:Neurotoxicology and Teratology Author(s): Oxana Yu. Naumova, Mary Dozier, Pavel V. Dobrynin, Kirill Grigorev, Allison Wallin, Ida Jeltova, Maria Lee, Adam Raefski, Elena L. Grigorenko Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in development, at the embryonic stages and later during the lifespan. Some epigenetic marks are highly conserved throughout the lifespan whereas others are closely associated with specific age periods and/or particular environmental factors. Little is known about the dynamics of epigenetic regulation during childhood, especially during the period of rapid early development. Our study was aimed to determine whether the developmental program at the early stages of human development is accompanied by significant changes in the systems of genome regulation, specifically, by genome-wide changes in DNA methylation. Using a sequencing approach (MBD-seq) we investigated genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the T-lymphocytes of three healthy toddlers at two timepoints within the second year of life. Pairwise comparisons of the methylation patterns across the individuals and time points was conducted to determine common longitudinal changes in the DNA methylation patterns. Despite relatively high interindividual variability in their epigenetic profiles and the dynamics of these profiles during the second year of life, all children showed consistent changes in the DNA methylation patterns...
Source: Neurotoxicology and Teratology - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research