Smoking during pregnancy increases chemerin expression in neonatal tissue

We examined chemerin gene expression [n = 31 non‐smoker (NS) and 15 smoker (S)] and DNA methylation (n = 28 NS andn = 11 S) in skin collected from babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy as compared to non‐smoking controls. Quality RNA and DNA were isolated from foreskin tissue following circumcision, and chemerin gene expression and DNA methylation were assessed. Further, in a second cohort, we ut ilized primary dermal foreskin fibroblasts as a functional measure of adipogenesis in living cells (n = 11 NS andn = 8 S). Cells were stimulated with an adipogenic cocktail, mRNA was isolated from cells after 14 days, and chemerin gene expression assessed via real‐time PCR. Chemerin mRNA was elevated in both whole tissue (NS: 2409.20 ± 555.28 counts and S: 2966.72 ± 636.84 counts;P< 0.01) and primary fibroblasts (NS: 1.12  ± and S: 2.13 ± ;P = 0.04) collected from infants born to smoking mothers. Chemerin DNA methylation was reduced in whole tissue of offspring born to smokers (NS: 4.18  ± 1.28 and S: 3.07 ± 1.31%;P = 0.02), which may contribute to the increased gene expression. Neonates born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy exhibit distinct changes in chemerin gene expression in response toin utero tobacco smoke exposure which are regulated in part by epigenetic alterations.

Source: Experimental Physiology - November 22, 2018 Category: Physiology Authors: Leryn J. Reynolds, Niraj R. Chavan, Logan B. DeHoff, Joshua D. Preston, Hannah F. Maddox, John M. O'Brien, David A. Armstrong, Carmen J. Marsit, Kevin J. Pearson Tags: RESEARCH PAPER Source Type: research