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(Epi)genetic variants of the sarcomere-desmosome are associated with premature utero-contraction in spontaneous preterm labor
  • +11
  • Jie Wang,
  • Xiucui Luo,
  • Jing Pan,
  • Xiaoyan Dong,
  • Xiujun Tian,
  • zhihua Tu,
  • Weina Ju,
  • Meijiao Zhang,
  • Mei Zhong,
  • Charles Chen,
  • Michael Flory,
  • Yong Wang,
  • William Brown,
  • Nanbert Zhong
Jie Wang
Hainan Provincial Hospital for Maternal and Children’s Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xiucui Luo
Center of Translational Research, Lianyungang Municipal Hospital for Maternal and Children’s Health
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Jing Pan
Lianyungang Municipal Hospital for Maternal and Children’s Health
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Xiaoyan Dong
Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University
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Xiujun Tian
Sanya Maternity and Child Care Center Affiliated to Hainan Medical University
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zhihua Tu
Hainan Provincial Hospital for Maternal and Children’s Health
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Weina Ju
New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
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Meijiao Zhang
Center of Translational Research, Lianyungang Municipal Hospital for Maternal and Children’s Health
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Mei Zhong
Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
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Charles Chen
The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
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Michael Flory
New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
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Yong Wang
Washington University in Saint Louis Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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William Brown
New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
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Nanbert Zhong
New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
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Abstract

Background: Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a syndrome with clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Few studies have focused on genetic and epigenetic defects and pathogenic mechanisms associated with premature uterine contraction (PUC) of sPTB. Objective: To investigate the (epi)genetic variations associated with premature uterine contraction (PUC) of sPTB. Design: An integrated omics approach of systems biology was employed. Genomics, transcriptomics, methylomics, and proteomics were employed to focus on genetic loci/genes related to uterine muscle contraction, and specifically on genes associated with sarcomeres and desmosomes. Methods: Pregnant cohort with biobank of pregnant tissues was subjected to multiomic studies. Results: Thirteen SNVs and pathogenic variants were identified in the sarcomere gene, TTN, from 146 women with sPTL. DEPs of five lncRNAs were identified from loci that overlap with four sarcomeric genes. Longitudinally, the lncRNA TPM3 was found to significantly regulate the messenger RNA (mRNA) of TPM3 in the placenta, compared to maternal blood. The majority of GMPs related to PUC were also identified in the CpG promoters of sarcomeric genes/loci. DEP of PCU mRNAs showed 22 genes associated with the sarcomere and three with the desmosome. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that PUC was associated mainly with pathogenic variants of the TTN gene and that transcription of sarcomeric PUC genes is likely regulated by epigenetic factors, including methylation and lncRNA.