Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39746347›Full record

ArticleLifestyle genomics2025

Exploring Differentially Methylated Genes among Preterm Birth and Full-Term Birth.

Aleem Razzaq, Razan ElKahlout, Gheyath K Nasrallah, Faisal E Ibrahim, Muthanna Samara, Hatem Zayed, Palli Valapila Abdulrouf, Rana Al-Jurf, Ahmed Najjar, Thomas Farrell and 3 more

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Article in Lifestyle genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Aleem RazzaqDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Razan ElKahloutDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Gheyath K NasrallahDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Faisal E IbrahimDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Muthanna SamaraDepartment of Psychology, Kingston University London, London, UK.
Hatem ZayedDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Palli Valapila AbdulroufDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Rana Al-JurfTranslational and Precision Medicine Research Facility, Women's Wellness and Research Center (WWRC), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.
Ahmed NajjarAtom Genetik Lab, Istanbul, Turkey.
Thomas FarrellDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
M Walid QoronflehHealth Research & Policy Division, Q3 Research Institute (QRI), Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Hilal Al RifaiNeonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Newborn Screening Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Women's Wellness and Research Center (WWRC), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.
Nader Al-DewikDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPreterm birth (PTB) is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality. DNA methylation plays a critical role in fetal development and may serve as an epigenetic biomarker for PTB. However, few epigenetic studies have investigated PTB-specific DNA methylation changes. This study aimed to identify epigenetic differences between PTB and term birth (TB) infants.

methodsA total of 218 cord blood samples from three independent PTB studies were analyzed to identify epigenetic differences between PTB and TB infants. Differential methylation analysis was conducted while adjusting for key covariates, including gestational age, sex, and disease status. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) (genes and promoters) and differentially methylated sites (DMSs) (CpG sites) were assessed for significant methylation differences between the two groups.

resultsIn PTB infants, several genes, including RNASE3, HGF, CLEC5A, LIPN, NXF1, and CCDC12 showed significant hypermethylation (p < 0.05), while the MUC20 and IFNL4 genes showed significant hypomethylation (p < 0.05). The eForge analysis revealed that hypermethylated (p < 0.05) CpG sites were significantly enriched in different fetal tissues such as the small and large intestines, adrenal gland, fetal heart, lungs, and kidney, whereas hypomethylated CpGs showed no significant enrichment. Gene ontology analysis indicated that differentially methylated genes were primarily involved in immune response regulation. Notably, S100A9 and S100A8 genes, which play crucial roles in neonatal immune function and sepsis risk, were hypermethylated (p < 0.05) in PTB infants.

conclusionThis study identified PTB-associated DNA methylation changes in immune-related genes, suggesting their potential epigenetic biomarkers for PTB. These findings enhance our understanding of PTB pathogenesis and may contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationPremature BirthTerm BirthAdultBiomarkersCpG IslandsEpigenesis, GeneticFemaleFetal BloodGestational AgeHumansInfant, NewbornMalePregnancyPromoter Regions, GeneticBiomarkersBiomarkersDifferentially methylated regionsEpigeneticsPreterm birth

Identifiers

PMID39746347
PMCPMC12097759

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.