Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic (PedBE) and Neonatal Epigenetic Estimator of Age (NEOage) Clocks: A Focus on Pediatric Oncology

Amirhossein  Omidi; Maryam Sadat  Yazdanparast; Seyedeh Elham  Shams; Reza  Bahrami; Mohammad  Golshan-Tafti; Seyed Alireza  Dastgheib; Maryam  Yeganegi; Mahsa  Danaie; Ali  Masoudi; Amirmasoud  Shiri; Maryam  Aghasipour; Kazem  Aghili; Mahmood  Noorishadkam; Hossein  Neamatzadeh

doi:10.18502/ijpho.v15i2.18178

Amirhossein Omidi Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Maryam Sadat Yazdanparast Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Seyedeh Elham Shams Department of Pediatrics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Reza Bahrami Neonatal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohammad Golshan-Tafti Department of Pediatrics, Islamic Azad University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran
Seyed Alireza Dastgheib Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Maryam Yeganegi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
Mahsa Danaie Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Masoudi Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Amirmasoud Shiri Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Maryam Aghasipour Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Kazem Aghili Department of Radiology, Shahid Rahnamoun Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Mahmood Noorishadkam Department of Radiology, Shahid Rahnamoun Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Hossein Neamatzadeh Mother and Newborn Health Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpho.v15i2.18178

Keywords: Biological Variation, DNA Methylation, Gestational Age, Oncology, Pediatric

Abstract

The Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic (PedBE) and Neonatal Epigenetic Estimator of Age (NEOage) clocks provide a novel method for assessing the biological age of young individuals, enhancing our comprehension of their health and development. By analyzing DNA methylation patterns, these clocks identify risk factors for various health conditions and guide personalized interventions to promote optimal growth in children and infants. With ongoing research and validation, PedBE and NEOage could revolutionize pediatric and neonatal healthcare by facilitating early detection of age-related changes and targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes. In pediatric oncology, PedBE is particularly promising for evaluating biological age in children with cancer, as it accurately estimates DNA methylation age in buccal cells, revealing the effects of cancer and its treatments on biological aging. Additionally, PedBE can detect DNA methylation changes associated with environmental exposures and childhood adversities, making it a valuable tool for studying the impact of cancer on the epigenetic age of pediatric patients. The NEOage clock, designed to predict gestational age in newborns, complements the PedBE clock, offering a comprehensive assessment of biological age from infancy to adolescence, which is vital for understanding pediatric oncology’s influence on aging. This paper examines the complexities of both clocks, highlighting their potential for accurately determining the age of children and infants through DNA methylation analysis.