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A Study of the Placental Methylome of Dichorionic and Monochorionic Monozygotic Twin Pairs to Establish a Timeline of Epigenetic Programming

Belgium240 participantsStarted 2021-01-26

Plain-language summary

The timing of the moment of splitting is variable amongst twins and can be inferred from chorionicity, allowing a time-line of early environmental influences to be established. Monozygotic twins can remain discordant for growth and health outcomes throughout life, implying the prenatal establishment of a regulatory program with effects that persist into adulthood. Objective: To investigate the effect of the moment of splitting (chorionicity) on the placental and saliva (in adulthood) methylome and cardiometabolic disease risk in monozygotic twin pairs. Birth weight discordance will be used as an indicator of prenatal environmental heterogeneity between the twins.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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Inclusion Criteria: * natural conceived twin pairs born before 2002, * with known birth weight, sex and gestational age, * where both twins were live born without congenital abnormality * Only pairs where both twins consent to inclusion in the study will be included. Exclusion Criteria: * Twins born after pregnancies complicated by conditions such as TTTS will be excluded.

What they're measuring

To identify differences in DNA methylation in placental biopsy.

Timeframe: 1 year after saliva sample collection

To identify differences in DNA methylation in saliva sample.

Timeframe: 1 year after saliva sample collection

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05733065

SponsorUniversity Hospital, Ghent

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-02-01

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