Maternal Grandmothers in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (MGBIG)

The MGBIG is a study exploring cross-generational effects in 5000 women and their children and grandchildren located in Guangzhou, China. Its initial aim is to facilitate research on understanding the interplay between genes and environmental factors on disease etiology and on explaining the cause of the disease from the perspective of "grandmother-mother-child" heredity. Data are collected regarding environmental exposures, lifestyle, and social support on grandmother from birth to old age. Biological samples including blood and tissue samples are collected.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Childhood Obesity; Neurodevelopment; Immune Development; Host and Microbiome; Hereditary Transmission
• Intervention / Treatment: Other

Detailed Description

It was previously believed that heredity strictly follows Mendel's laws, but recent studies have found that through placental material exchange, mammals may transfer maternal immune-related factors vertically, thus promoting the protection of "non-heredited maternal antigenic traits". Thus, the transmission of reproductive information across generations is realized. Since the unusual genetic pattern of the X chromosome, grandmother's influence may be gender specific. Since grandchildren were usually took care by grandparents in China, it could be achievable to attach and recruit maternal grandmother together with mother and children. Cohort including three generations of women is rare in Asia at present. In the MGBIG, extensive information including demographic characteristics, lifestyle, history of diseases, mental health, and behaviors is collected from the participants. Longitudinal follow up and surveillance of common chronic diseases are also to be conducted. The MGBIG intends to recruit maternal grandmothers to study the effects of maternal genetic and environmental exposure on the health of their children and grandchildren.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 5000

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Xiu Qiu, PhD; Phone Number: 0086 20 38367160; Email: qxiu0161@163.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Xueling Wei, MS; Phone Number: 0086 20 38367159; Email: xueling.wei@bigcs.org

Study Locations

• China
  • Guangdong
    • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510623
      • Recruiting
      • Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center
      • Contact: Xiu Qiu, Doctor; Phone Number: +862038076001; Email: qxiu0161@163.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 36 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All maternal grandmothers of the children in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS) would be recruited.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Maternal Grandmother' grandchildren delivered in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center
2. Baseline information of maternal grandmother's daughter during pregnancy available

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant cardiovascular abnormalities
2. Intelligent obstacle, intellectual disabilities or gawkish condition

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Haplotypes transfered by non-inherited maternal antigens from maternal grandmother to female offspring	Assessed by analyses of MHC haplotypes, HLA haplotypes, and levels of non-inherited maternal antigens of mother and offspring, and pregnancy complication of maternal grandmothers and mothers	From the date of her daughter get pregnant until the date her grandchild/grandchildren is/are given birth

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Serum levels of Inflammatory factors at grandchildren's birth and early neonatal life	Assessed by analyses of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, etc.	At the birth date of her grandchild/grandchildren, at the date 42 days after the birth of the certain grandchild/grandchildren
The prevalence of eczema of grandchildren	Assessed by self-reported time of onset and electronic medical record	At the age of 6 weeks, 6 months, 1year, 3 years, 6 years, 12years and 18years of grandchildren
The incidence of asthma of grandchildren	Assessed by self-reported time of onset and electronic medical record	At the age of 6 months, 1year, 3 years, 6 years, 12years and 18years of grandchildren
The prevalence of Allergic rhinitis of grandchildren	Assessed by self-reported time of onset and electronic medical record	At the age of 6 months, 1year, 3 years, 6 years, 12years and 18years of grandchildren
The prevalence of Food allergy of children and grandchildren	Assessed by self-reported time of onset and electronic medical record	At the age of 6 months, 1year, 3 years, 6 years, 12years and 18years of grandchildren
Changes of body composition of grandchildren	Body composition is assessed using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry	At age of 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18years
Changes of bone density of grandchildren	Bone density is assessed using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry	At age of 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center
• Collaborators: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati; University of Birmingham
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Xiu Qiu, PhD, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, China

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Qiu X, Lu JH, He JR, Lam KH, Shen SY, Guo Y, Kuang YS, Yuan MY, Qiu L, Chen NN, Lu MS, Li WD, Xing YF, Zhou FJ, Bartington S, Cheng KK, Xia HM. The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS). Eur J Epidemiol. 2017 Apr;32(4):337-346. doi: 10.1007/s10654-017-0239-x. Epub 2017 Mar 20.
• Kinder JM, Jiang TT, Ertelt JM, Xin L, Strong BS, Shaaban AF, Way SS. Cross-Generational Reproductive Fitness Enforced by Microchimeric Maternal Cells. Cell. 2015 Jul 30;162(3):505-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.07.006. Epub 2015 Jul 23.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 21, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2038

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 13, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 16, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 13, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cohort; Immune; Genes; Child development; Maternal Grandmother
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Overweight; Body Weight; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2018041801; 81673181 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Natural Science Foundation of China); 201508030037 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Guangzhou, China)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No