Aim: Imprinted genes exhibit expression in a parent-of-origin-dependent manner and are critical for child development. Recent limited evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to phthalates, ubiquitous endocrine disruptors, can affect their epigenetic dysregulation.
Materials & methods: We quantified DNA methylation of nine imprinted gene differentially methylated regions by pyrosequencing in 296 cord blood DNA samples in a Mexican-American cohort. Fetal exposure was estimated by phthalate metabolite concentrations in maternal urine samples during pregnancy.
Results: Several differentially methylated regions of imprinted genes were associated with high molecular weight phthalates. The most consistent, positive, and false discovery rate significant associations were observed for MEG3.
Conclusion: Phthalate exposure in utero may affect methylation status of imprinted genes in newborn children.
Keywords: DNA methylation; Mexican–Americans; cord blood; differentially methylated region; endocrine disruptors; imprinted genes; in utero exposure; newborns; phthalates; pyrosequencing.