Fetal growth restriction and methylation of growth-related genes in the placenta

Aim: To examine the associations between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and DNA methylation of six growth-related genes in human placenta. Materials & methods: A total of 181 mother-newborn pairs (80 FGR cases and 101 controls) were enrolled in this case-control study. Placental DNA methylation was measured by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Results: DNA methylation levels of IGF2 and AHRR were positively associated with newborn birth weight and Quetelet's index, while DNA methylation levels of HSD11B2 and WNT2 were negatively associated with those fetal growth indicators. In addition, significantly elevated odds of FGR birth were associated with increasing DNA methylation of HSD11B2 and WNT2, and decreasing DNA methylation of IGF2. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that placental DNA methylation levels of IGF2, AHRR, HSD11B2 and WNT2 were associated with measures of fetal growth.