Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Buccal Cells of Children Conceived through IVF and ICSI

Abstract

Early life periconceptional exposures during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures could alter the DNA methylation profiles of ART children, notably in imprinted genes and repetitive elements. At the genome scale, DNA methylation differences have been reported in ART conceptions at birth, but it is still unclear if those differences remain at childhood. Here, we performed an epigenome-wide DNA methylation association study using Illumina InfiniumEPIC BeadChip to assess the effects of the mode of conception on the methylome of buccal cells from 7- to 8-year-old children (48 children conceived after ART or naturally (control, CTL)) and according to the embryo culture medium in which they were conceived. We identified 127 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and 16 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) (FDR < 0.05) with low delta beta differences between the two groups (ART vs. CTL). DMPs were preferentially located inside promoter proximal regions and CpG islands and were mostly hypermethylated with ART. We highlighted that the use of distinct embryo culture medium was not associated with DNA methylation differences in childhood. Overall, we bring additional evidence that children conceived via ART display limited genome-wide DNA methylation variation compared with those conceived naturally.

Is Aberrant DNA Methylation a Key Factor in Molar Incisor Hypomineralization?

“…Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak et al concluded that global DNA methylation was significantly lower in placenta from a planned Caesarean section in comparison to intrapartum Caesarean section and vaginal birth [ 21 ], although differences between intrapartum Caesarean section and vaginal birth were not statistically significant. Ducreux et al made a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation among children conceived naturally or via ART [ 23 ] and claimed that DNA methylation status was not significantly different in their cohort. Virani et al concluded that the type of delivery of a newborn baby was not correlated with the level of global DNA methylation [ 24 ].…”