The Oxygen Load Supplied during Delivery Room Stabilization of Preterm Infants Modifies the DNA Methylation Profile

Objectives To determine whether the amount of oxygen provided during postnatal stabilization changes the DNA methylome in preterm infants. Study design This prospective, observational study included 32 preterm infants 500 mLO(2)/kg changed the methylation pattern of the selected CpGs. Genes associated with these CpGs were "enriched" in KEGG pathways involved in cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and oxidative stress. Conclusions The oxygen load provided upon resuscitation modified the DNA methylome. Differential methylation may lead to altered expression of genes related to cell cycle progression, oxidative stress, and DNA repair. The reversibility of these early epigenetic changes is unknown but merits further study.