A new study suggests that epigenetic changes in the placenta could predict childhood obesity. Researchers from the Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI) analyzed DNA methylation in placental samples. The study focused on identifying methylation marks associated with a higher risk of childhood obesity, specifically a higher body mass index (BMI) at 6 years of age.
The research, published in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences", identified the IRS1 gene (Insulin Receptor Substrate 1) as a key candidate. The IRS1 gene encodes a crucial protein in the insulin signaling pathway. Researchers studied DNA methylation, a type of epigenetic modification that regulates gene activation or silencing and can alter gene expression.
"Our results show that the methylation levels of the IRS1 gene, both in the placenta and in the blood of children, are associated with various indicators of metabolic risk," says Dr. Gómez. The research team used artificial intelligence models to demonstrate that methylation of this gene in the placenta can accurately predict which children are more likely to develop obesity in childhood. These findings suggest that the IRS1 gene could serve as an early epigenetic marker for identifying children at higher risk of developing metabolic disorders.
This discovery could pave the way for earlier and more personalized prevention strategies. The study involved researchers from IDIBGI and the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute. The research was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.