Steyn, AngelaCrowther, Nigel J.Norris, Shane A.Rabionet, RaquelEstivill, Xavier, 1955-Ramsay, Michèle2020-03-202020-03-202019Steyn A, Crowther NJ, Norris SA, Rabionet R, Estivill X, Ramsay M. Epigenetic modification of the pentose phosphate pathway and the IGF-axis in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Epigenomics. 2019; 11(12):1371-85. DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-02061750-1911http://hdl.handle.net/10230/43965Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been linked with adverse long-term health outcomes for the fetus and mother. These effects may be mediated by epigenetic modifications. Materials & methods: Genome-wide RNA sequencing was performed in placental tissue and maternal blood in six GDM and six non-GDM pregnancies. Promoter region DNA methylation was examined for selected genes and correlated with gene expression to examine an epigenetic modulator mechanism. Results: Reductions of mRNA expression and increases in promoter methylation were observed for G6PD in GDM women, and for genes encoding IGF-binding proteins in GDM-exposed placenta. Conclusion: GDM involves epigenetic attenuation of G6PD, which may lead to hyperglycemia and oxidative stress, and the IGF-axis, which may modulate fetal macrosomia.application/pdfeng© 2019 University of the Witwatersrand. Open access. This work is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.2217/epi-2018-0206DNA methylationIGF binding proteinRNA sequencingEpigeneticsGestational diabetes mellitusGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenasePentose phosphate pathwayinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess