TY - JOUR
T1 - Methylome profiling of cell-free DNA during the early life course in (un)complicated pregnancies using MeD-seq
T2 - Protocol for a cohort study embedded in the prospective Rotterdam periconception cohort
AU - van Vliet, Marjolein M.
AU - Schoenmakers, Sam
AU - Boers, Ruben G.
AU - van der Meeren, Lotte E.
AU - Gribnau, Joost
AU - Steegers-Theunissen, Régine P.M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 van Vliet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2025/1/9
Y1 - 2025/1/9
N2 - Introduction:Placental DNA methylation differences have been associated with timing in gestation and pregnancy complications. Maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) partly originates from the placenta and could enable the minimally invasive study of placental DNA methylation dynamics. We will for the first time longitudinally investigate cfDNA methylation during pregnancy by using Methylated DNA Sequencing (MeD-seq), which is compatible with low cfDNA levels and has an extensive genome-wide coverage. We aim to investigate DNA methylation in placental tissues and cfDNA during different trimesters in uncomplicated pregnancies, and in pregnancies with placental-related complications, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Identified gestational-age and disease-specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) could lead to numerous applications including biomarker development. Methods and analysis: Our study design involves three sub-studies. Sub-study 1 is a single-centre prospective, observational subcohort embedded within the Rotterdam Periconception cohort (Predict study). We will longitudinally collect maternal plasma in each trimester and during delivery, and sample postpartum placentas (n = 300). In sub-study 2, we will prospectively collect first and second trimester placental tissues (n = 10 per trimester). In sub-study 3 we will retrospectively collect plasma after non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in an independent validation case-control cohort (n = 30–60). A methylation-dependent restriction enzyme (LpnPI) will be used to generate DNA fragments followed by sequencing on the Illumina Next-Seq2000 platform. DMRs will be identified in placental tissues and cell types, and in cfDNA related to gestational-age or placental-related complications. (Paired) placental methylation profiles will be correlated to DMRs in cfDNA to aid tissue-of-origin analysis. We will establish a methylation score to predict associated diseases. Discussion: This study will provide insights in placental DNA methylation dynamics in health and disease, and could lead to clinical relevant biomarkers.
AB - Introduction:Placental DNA methylation differences have been associated with timing in gestation and pregnancy complications. Maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) partly originates from the placenta and could enable the minimally invasive study of placental DNA methylation dynamics. We will for the first time longitudinally investigate cfDNA methylation during pregnancy by using Methylated DNA Sequencing (MeD-seq), which is compatible with low cfDNA levels and has an extensive genome-wide coverage. We aim to investigate DNA methylation in placental tissues and cfDNA during different trimesters in uncomplicated pregnancies, and in pregnancies with placental-related complications, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Identified gestational-age and disease-specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) could lead to numerous applications including biomarker development. Methods and analysis: Our study design involves three sub-studies. Sub-study 1 is a single-centre prospective, observational subcohort embedded within the Rotterdam Periconception cohort (Predict study). We will longitudinally collect maternal plasma in each trimester and during delivery, and sample postpartum placentas (n = 300). In sub-study 2, we will prospectively collect first and second trimester placental tissues (n = 10 per trimester). In sub-study 3 we will retrospectively collect plasma after non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in an independent validation case-control cohort (n = 30–60). A methylation-dependent restriction enzyme (LpnPI) will be used to generate DNA fragments followed by sequencing on the Illumina Next-Seq2000 platform. DMRs will be identified in placental tissues and cell types, and in cfDNA related to gestational-age or placental-related complications. (Paired) placental methylation profiles will be correlated to DMRs in cfDNA to aid tissue-of-origin analysis. We will establish a methylation score to predict associated diseases. Discussion: This study will provide insights in placental DNA methylation dynamics in health and disease, and could lead to clinical relevant biomarkers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214917372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0310019
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0310019
M3 - Article
C2 - 39787204
AN - SCOPUS:85214917372
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 20
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 1
M1 - e0310019
ER -