TY - JOUR T1 - Residential green space in association with the methylation status in a CpG site within the promoter region of the placental serotonin receptor HTR2A JF - Epigenetics Y1 - 2022 A1 - Yinthe Dockx A1 - Esmée, Bijnens A1 - Nelly, Saenen A1 - Raf Aerts A1 - Jean-Marie, Aerts A1 - Lidia, Casas A1 - Andy, Delcloo A1 - Nicolas, Dendoncker A1 - Catherine, Linard A1 - Michelle, Plusquin A1 - Michiel, Stas A1 - An Van Nieuwenhuyse A1 - Jos, Van Orshoven A1 - Ben, Somers A1 - Tim, Nawrot KW - Aserotonin KW - DNA Methylation KW - epigenetic KW - Green space KW - HTR2 KW - Placenta AB -

Green space could influence adult cognition and childhood neurodevelopment , and is hypothesized to be partly driven by epigenetic modifications. However, it remains unknown whether some of these associations are already evident during foetal development. Similar biological signals shape the developmental processes in the foetal brain and placenta.Therefore, we hypothesize that green space can modify epigenetic processes of cognition-related pathways in placental tissue, such as DNA-methylation of the serotonin receptor HTR2A. HTR2A-methylation was determined within 327 placentas from the ENVIRONAGE (ENVIRonmental influence ON early AGEing) birth cohort using bisulphite-PCR-pyrosequencing. Total green space exposure was calculated using high-resolution land cover data derived from the Green Map of Flanders in seven buffers (50 m-3 km) and stratified into low (<3 m) and high (≥3 m) vegetation. Residential nature was calculated using the Land use Map of Flanders. We performed multivariate regression models adjusted for several a priori chosen covariables. For an IQR increment in total green space within a 1,000 m, 2,000 m and 3,000 m buffer the methylation of HTR2A increased with 1.47% (95%CI:0.17;2.78), 1.52% (95%CI:0.21;2.83) and 1.42% (95%CI:0.15;2.69), respectively. Additionally,, we found 3.00% (95%CI:1.09;4.91) and 1.98% (95%CI:0.28;3.68) higher HTR2A-methylation when comparing residences with and without the presence of nature in a 50 m and 100 m buffer, respectively. The methylation status of HTR2A in placental tissue is positively associated with maternal green space exposure. Future research is needed to understand better how these epigenetic changes are related to functional modifications in the placenta and the consequent implications for foetal development.

M3 - 10.1080/15592294.2022.2088464 ER -