Physical activity and epigenetic biomarkers in maternal blood during pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: Investigate associations of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with DNA methylation and miRNAs during pregnancy. Patients & methods: LTPA, candidate DNA methylation and circulating miRNAs were measured (average 15 weeks gestation) in pregnant women (n = 92).

Results: Each additional hour of prepregnancy LTPA duration was associated with hypermethylation in C1orf212 (β = 0.137, 95% CI: 0.004-0.270) and higher circulating miR-146b-5p (β = 0.084, 95% CI: 0.017-0.151). Each additional metabolic equivalent hour of early-pregnancy LTPA energy expenditure was associated with higher circulating miR-21-3p (β = 0.431, 95% CI: 0.089-0.772) in women carrying female offspring, and lower circulating miR-146b-5p (β = -0.285, 95% CI: -0.528 to -0.043) and miR-517-5p (β = -0.406, 95% CI: -0.736 to -0.076) in women carrying male offspring.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that LTPA may influence maternal epigenetic biomarkers, possibly in an offspring sex-specific manner.

Keywords: DNA methylation; miRNA; peripheral blood; physical activity; pregnancy; sex-specific.

Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the NIH under grant T32HD052462, R01HD-32562, and K01HL103174 and by a pilot grant awarded by the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health at the University of Washington, Seattle WA, through a program project (P30ES07033) funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.. Associations of early-pregnancy physical activity with DNA methylation by offspring sex.

Figure 2.. Associations of early-pregnancy physical activity with candidate miRNAs by offspring sex.