DNA methylation profile of the SREBP2 gene in human fetal aortas

Increasing evidence suggests that maternal cholesterol represents an important risk factor for atherosclerotic disease in offspring already during pregnancy, although the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Eighteen human fetal aorta samples were collected from the spontaneously aborted fetuses of normalcholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic mothers. Maternal total cholesterol levels were assessed during hospitalization. DNA methylation profiling of the whole SREBF2 gene CpG island was performed (p-value<0.05). Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the two groups. For the first time, our study revealed that, in fetal aortas obtained from hypercholesterolemic mothers, SREBF2 gene shows four significant differentially hypermethylated sites in the 5’UTR-CpG island. This finding indicates that more effective long-term primary cardiovascular prevention programs need to be designed for the offspring of mothers with hypercholesterolemia. Further studies should be conducted to clarify the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the association between early atherogenesis and maternal hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy.