Examining the Vanishing Twin Hypothesis of Neural Tube Defects: Application of an Epigenetic Predictor for Monozygotic Twinning

Abstract Strong associations between neural tube defects (NTDs) and monozygotic (MZ) twinning have long been noted, and it has been suggested that NTD cases who do not present as MZ twins may be the survivors of MZ twinning events. We have recently shown that MZ twins carry a strong, distinctive DNA methylation signature and have developed an algorithm based on genomewide DNA methylation array data that distinguishes MZ twins from dizygotic twins and other relatives at well above chance level. We have applied this algorithm to published methylation data from five fetal tissues (placental chorionic villi, kidney, spinal cord, brain and muscle) collected from spina bifida cases (n = 22), anencephalic cases (n = 15) and controls (n = 19). We see no difference in signature between cases and controls, providing no support for a common etiological role of MZ twinning in NTDs. The strong associations therefore continue to await elucidation.

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The role of Vitamin B12 and genetic risk factors in the etiology of neural tube defects: A systematic review

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience ◽

10.1002/jdn.10113 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Farah Wahbeh ◽

Mange Manyama

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Genetic Risk ◽

Genetic Risk Factors

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EWAS Data Hub: a resource of DNA methylation array data and metadata

Nucleic Acids Research ◽

10.1093/nar/gkz840 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (D1) ◽

pp. D890-D895 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Zhuang Xiong ◽

Mengwei Li ◽

Fei Yang ◽

Yingke Ma ◽

Jian Sang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Complex Traits ◽

Cell Types ◽

Great Promise ◽

Methylation Array ◽

Array Data ◽

The Past ◽

Comprehensive Collection ◽

Dna Methylation Array ◽

Brain Parts

Abstract Epigenome-Wide Association Study (EWAS) has become an effective strategy to explore epigenetic basis of complex traits. Over the past decade, a large amount of epigenetic data, especially those sourced from DNA methylation array, has been accumulated as the result of numerous EWAS projects. We present EWAS Data Hub (https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ewas/datahub), a resource for collecting and normalizing DNA methylation array data as well as archiving associated metadata. The current release of EWAS Data Hub integrates a comprehensive collection of DNA methylation array data from 75 344 samples and employs an effective normalization method to remove batch effects among different datasets. Accordingly, taking advantages of both massive high-quality DNA methylation data and standardized metadata, EWAS Data Hub provides reference DNA methylation profiles under different contexts, involving 81 tissues/cell types (that contain 25 brain parts and 25 blood cell types), six ancestry categories, and 67 diseases (including 39 cancers). In summary, EWAS Data Hub bears great promise to aid the retrieval and discovery of methylation-based biomarkers for phenotype characterization, clinical treatment and health care.

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Role of apoptosis in prevention of valproic acid‐induced neural tube defects by maternal immune stimulation in CD‐1 mouse embryos

The FASEB Journal ◽

10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.lb21 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Murali krishna Mallela ◽

Terry Hrubec

Keyword(s):

Valproic Acid ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Mouse Embryos ◽

Immune Stimulation

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MBRS-14. INTEGRATING CLINICAL AND GENOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN PEDIATRIC MEDULLOBLASTOMA SUBTYPES IN A SINGLE COHORT IN TAIWAN

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.531 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii400-iii401

Author(s):

Kuo-Sheng Wu ◽

Tai-Tong Wong

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Clinical Results ◽

Tumor Location ◽

Molecular Subgroups ◽

Methylation Array ◽

Metastatic Rate ◽

Pediatric Medulloblastoma ◽

Dna Methylation Array

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) was classified to 4 molecular subgroups: WNT, SHH, group 3 (G3), and group 4 (G4) with the demographic and clinical differences. In 2017, The heterogeneity within MB was proposed, and 12 subtypes with distinct molecular and clinical characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrieved 52 MBs in children to perform RNA-Seq and DNA methylation array. Subtype cluster analysis performed by similarity network fusion (SNF) method. With clinical results and molecular profiles, the characteristics including age, gender, histological variants, tumor location, metastasis status, survival, cytogenetic and genetic aberrations among MB subtypes were identified. RESULTS In this cohort series, 52 childhood MBs were classified into 11 subtypes by SNF cluster analysis. WNT tumors shown no metastasis and 100% survival rate. All WNT tumors located on midline in 4th ventricle. Monosomy 6 presented in WNT α, but not in β subtype. SHH α and β occurred in children, while SHH γ in infant. Among SHH tumors, α subtype showed the worst outcome. G3 γ showed the highest metastatic rate and worst survival associated with MYC amplification. G4 α has the highest metastatic rate, however G4 γ showed the worst survival. CONCLUSION We identified molecular subgroups and subtypes of MBs based on gene expression and DNA methylation profile in children in our cohort series. The results may contribute to the establishment of nation-wide correlated optimal diagnosis and treatment strategies for MBs in infant and children.

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