Bioinformatics analysis of methylation profiles associated with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-5459-4217
Advisor Information
UNO Advisor TBD
Location
MBSC Ballroom - Poster #301 - U
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-3-2022 9:00 AM
End Date
4-3-2022 10:15 AM
Abstract
Though a fairly recent phenomenon, the opioid epidemic and its generational impact are only now beginning to be understood in their entirety. Many of these effects are passed down from mother to child during pregnancy, as the placenta allows for the transmission of nutrients, including opioids, to the fetus. In turn, this exposure can cause a variety of different illnesses, including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), where the constellation of symptoms may range from poor feeding, hyperactive reflexes, to sudden death and developmental delays. However, the variable presentation of NOWS only alludes to its currently uncharacterized genetic and epigenetic etiology. Given the immense reach of the opioid epidemic and economic cost of NOWS-treatment, it is necessary to better understand this illness. Accordingly, we hypothesized that neonatal exposure to such drugs will lead to abnormal neural development, thus helping elucidate altered pathways and genes involved in the etiology of NOWS. To this effect, we compared 32 healthy individuals (control, no drug exposure, no NOWS), 32 prenatally exposed neonates who did not require treatment (opioid exposure, no NOWS), and 32 prenatally exposed infants who required treatment (opioid exposure, NOWS). Using a bioinformatics and pathway analysis-based approach, we were able to create an algorithm that can effectively distinguish NOWS-presenting patients from unaffected individuals. This study provides putative evidence for the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in NOWS development.
Scheduling Link
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Bioinformatics analysis of methylation profiles associated with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
MBSC Ballroom - Poster #301 - U
Though a fairly recent phenomenon, the opioid epidemic and its generational impact are only now beginning to be understood in their entirety. Many of these effects are passed down from mother to child during pregnancy, as the placenta allows for the transmission of nutrients, including opioids, to the fetus. In turn, this exposure can cause a variety of different illnesses, including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), where the constellation of symptoms may range from poor feeding, hyperactive reflexes, to sudden death and developmental delays. However, the variable presentation of NOWS only alludes to its currently uncharacterized genetic and epigenetic etiology. Given the immense reach of the opioid epidemic and economic cost of NOWS-treatment, it is necessary to better understand this illness. Accordingly, we hypothesized that neonatal exposure to such drugs will lead to abnormal neural development, thus helping elucidate altered pathways and genes involved in the etiology of NOWS. To this effect, we compared 32 healthy individuals (control, no drug exposure, no NOWS), 32 prenatally exposed neonates who did not require treatment (opioid exposure, no NOWS), and 32 prenatally exposed infants who required treatment (opioid exposure, NOWS). Using a bioinformatics and pathway analysis-based approach, we were able to create an algorithm that can effectively distinguish NOWS-presenting patients from unaffected individuals. This study provides putative evidence for the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in NOWS development.