Parent Title:
The UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention
Grant Number:
Principal Investigator:
Lasalle, Janine M
Institution:
University of California, Davis
Most Recent Award Year:
2013
Lifestage of Participants:
Exposure:
Prenatal
Assessment:
Infant (0-1 year); Youth (1-18 years)
Exposures:
Brominated Compounds:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Nutrition/Diet/Supplements:
B-vitamins; Folate
Pesticides:
Not specified
Health Outcomes:
Neurological/Cognitive Outcomes:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Biological Sample:
Blood; Cord blood
Genes or Other DNA Products Studied:
Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3); Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1)
Epigenetic Mechanisms Studied:
DNA methylation
Abstract:
Epigenetic mechanisms act at the interface of genetic and environmental risk factors in autism. Project 2 is designed to investigate the epigenetic mark of DNA methylation, as environmental toxins have been demonstrated to reduce global DNA methylation levels while methyl-donor nutrients can be protective. This project will make use primarily of human cord blood samples from the MARBLES study in order to test the hypothesis that epigenetic patterns laid down in early life that regulate synapse maturation and immune responses will be impaired in autism through interactions between genetic and environmental factors. The first aim is designed to perform a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation and copy number variation and to study the association of differences in genetics and epigenetics with environmental exposures (from Project 1 and Core C) and nutrients. The second aim will investigate methylation of a specific gene locus, FOXP3, as an epigenetic marker of regulatory T cells and will make use of immunology expertise and existing participant samples from both MARBLES and CHARGE from Project 3. The third aim will test a multifactorial mechanistic model of transcription-induced epigenetic memory of perinatal gene x environment interactions at two specific loci, F0XP3 and FMR1, through interactions with Projects 3 and 4. Together these studies will increase understanding of the epigenetic interface between genetic and environmental risk factors in autism, leading to improved diagnosis, prevention, and therapies.
ExpandCollapse Abstract
Related NIEHS-Funded Study Populations
Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES)
Principal Investigator:
Hertz-Picciotto, Irva
| Study Population Page Study Population c71
Institution:
University of California, Davis
Location:
Sacramento-Davis Area, California
Number of Participants::
~450 Mother-child pairs
Brief Description::
This is a longitudinal study investigating perinatal biological and environmental risk factors of autism among women who have a biological child with autism.