Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis-associated DNA Methylation Signatures in the Colon Are Evident in Stool Samples of Affected Individuals

Overview

Journal Epigenomics

Specialty Genetics

Date 2021 Apr 27

PMID 33905263

Citations 9

Authors

Misty Good

Tianjiao Chu

Patricia Shaw

Lila S Nolan

Lora McClain

Austin Chamberlain

Carlos Castro

Qingqing Gong

Krista Cooksey

Laura Linneman

Olivia N Dewitt

David N Finegold

David G Peters

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly and unpredictable gastrointestinal disease, for which no biomarker exists. We aimed to describe the methylation patterns in stool and colon from infants with NEC. We performed a high-resolution genome-wide epigenomic analysis using solution-phase hybridization and next-generation sequencing of bisulfite-converted DNA. Our data reveal significant genomic hypermethylation in NEC tissues compared with non-NEC controls. These changes were more pronounced in regions outside CpG islands and gene regulatory elements, suggesting that NEC-specific hypermethylation is not a nonspecific global phenomenon. This study provides evidence of a methylomic signature associated with NEC that is detectable noninvasively and provides a new opportunity for the development of a novel diagnostic method for NEC.

Citing Articles

Detection of an intestinal cell DNA methylation signature in blood samples from neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Frazer L, Chu T, Shaw P, Boufford C, Naief L, Ednie M Epigenomics. 2025; 17(4):235-245.

PMID: 39894787 PMC: 11853613. DOI: 10.1080/17501911.2025.2459552.

Multi-strain probiotic administration decreases necrotizing enterocolitis severity and alters the epigenetic profile in mice.

Klerk D, Moore H, Scheese D, Tragesser C, Raouf Z, Duess J Pediatr Res. 2024; .

PMID: 39562735 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03716-0.

Early life epigenetics and childhood outcomes: a scoping review.

Hari Gopal S, Alenghat T, Pammi M Pediatr Res. 2024; .

PMID: 39289593 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03585-7.

Epigenetic Insights Into Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Unraveling Methylation-Regulated Biomarkers.

Tian B, Xu X, Li L, Tian Y, Liu Y, Mu Y Inflammation. 2024; 48(1):236-253.

PMID: 38814387 PMC: 11807086. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-024-02054-x.

DNA methylation in necrotizing enterocolitis.

Frazer L, Yamaguchi Y, Singh D, Akopyants N, Good M Expert Rev Mol Med. 2024; 26:e16.

PMID: 38557638 PMC: 11140546. DOI: 10.1017/erm.2024.16.

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