Identification and validation of DNA methylation changes in pre-eclampsia.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a dangerous placental condition that can lead to premature labour, seizures and death of mother and infant. Several studies have identified altered placental DNA methylation in PE; however, there is widespread inconsistency between studies and most findings have not been replicated. This study aimed to identify and validate consistent differences in methylation across multiple PE cohorts.

Methods: Seven publicly available 450K methylation array datasets were analysed to identify consistent differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in PE. DMPs were identified based on methylation difference (≥10%) and significance (p-value ≤ 1 × 10). Targeted deep bisulfite sequencing was then performed to validate a subset of DMPs in an additional independent PE cohort.

Results: Stringent analysis of the seven 450K datasets identified 25 DMPs (associated with 11 genes) in only one dataset. Using more relaxed criteria confirmed 19 of the stringent 25 DMPs in at least four of the remaining six datasets. Targeted deep bisulfite sequencing of eight DMPs (associated with three genes; CMIP, ST3GAL1 and DAPK3) in an independent PE cohort validated two DMPs in the CMIP gene. Seven additional CpG sites in CMIP were found to be significantly differentially methylated in PE.

Discussion: The identification and validation of significant differential methylation in CMIP suggests that the altered DNA methylation of this gene may be associated with the pathogenesis of PE, and may have the potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers for this dangerous condition of pregnancy.