Une signature trouvée dans les cellules de la joue des mères et des pères d’enfants prématurés pourrait aider à mettre au point un test permettant de déterminer si une grossesse peut se terminer trop tôt. Un tel test pourrait aider à prévenir les naissances prématurées et les nombreux impacts sur la santé des nourrissons qui en résultent, en alertant les prestataires médicaux sur la nécessité de mesures d’intervention précoce.
Dans une étude publiée dans Scientific Reports aujourd’hui (1er mars 2022), les chercheurs ont documenté plus de 100 biomarqueurs épigénétiques chez les mères de bébés prématurés qui étaient distincts des mères de bébés portés à terme. Les pères présentaient moins de biomarqueurs, mais suffisamment pour indiquer un rôle paternel probable dans la naissance prématurée.
“La signature que nous avons trouvée était présente chez tous les parents que nous avons analysés”, a déclaré l’auteur principal Michael Skinner, professeur à l’école des sciences biologiques de l’université d’État de Washington. “Cela devrait conduire à terme à un test très utile. Nous avons utilisé des cellules buccales, qui sont recueillies par un frottis de la joue. C’est très peu invasif et facile à réaliser”.
L’épigénétique est constituée de facteurs et de processus moléculaires autour de DNA that determine how genes behave. While independent of DNA sequence, epigenetic modifications, which can be caused by things such as toxicant exposure, poor nutrition and alcohol use, can also be inherited.
In this study, researchers found that the preterm female babies carried more than 100 of these biomarkers, indicating the propensity to have a preterm baby may be passed down. That transgenerational capacity is also supported by the fact the signature is found in cheek cells, Skinner said. If an epigenetic modification is present in both sperm and ovum, the resulting baby will have that modification present in every cell of their body – including their cheek cells.
For this study, the researchers took cheek swabs from two groups of mother-father-infant triads shortly after the babies were born. In one set of 19 triads, the infants were born premature and in another group of 21 triads, the babies were carried to full term. The epigenetic analysis revealed the signature in the mothers, fathers and female preterm babies, but none in the male preterm infants.
This is a “proof of concept” study, and the researchers note that the next step would be to test this with greater numbers of parents and children.
Early birth before 37 weeks of gestation can be fatal for infants, and many who survive face a host of health issues, some of which can follow them their entire lives, including cognitive disabilities and cardiovascular problems. There are many risk factors that can cause preterm birth such as a twin or multiple pregnancy and the high-blood pressure condition known as preclampsia – but some early births are unexpected. Having a diagnostic test in the first-term of pregnancy can allow caregivers to take steps to delay or prevent a preterm birth, Skinner said.
Skinner’s lab has previously published studies on other potential epigenetic biomarkers, including one for autism and rheumatoid arthritis, paving the way for earlier treatment.
“Although we may not be able to fix the problem, if we know that it’s going to develop because of these diagnostics, we can treat it,” said Skinner. “This could help with the transition from reactionary medicine to preventive medicine.”
Reference: “Preterm birth buccal cell epigenetic biomarkers to facilitate preventative medicine” 1 March 2022, Scientific Reports.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07262-9
In addition to Skinner, co-authors on this paper include Paul Winchester at Indiana University as well as Eric Nilsson and Daniel Beck from WSU. This study was supported by grants from the John Templeton Foundation.
