• Aleksandra Fučić, Jelena Knežević, Jure Krasić, Denis Polančec, Nino Sinčić, Nada Sindičić Dessardo, Mirta Starčević, Vedrana Guszak, Marcello Ceppi, and Marco Bruzzone.
• Aleksandra Fučić, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, afucic@imi.hr.
• Croat. Med. J. 2023 Oct 31; 64 (5): 320328320-328.

AimTo compare interleukin-2 levels (IL-2) and IL-2 gene site 1 methylation levels between preterm newborns (PN) and full-term newborns (FN) and investigate their association with the environmental exposure of their mothers during pregnancy.MethodsIL-2 and IL-2 gene site 1 methylation levels were assessed in 50 PN and 56 FN. Newborns' mothers filled in questionnaires about their living and occupational environments, habits, diets, and hobbies.ResultsThe mothers of PN were significantly more frequently agrarian/rural residents than the mothers of FN. PN had significantly higher IL-2 levels, and significantly lower methylation of IL-2 gene site 1 levels than FN.ConclusionIL-2 levels, hypomethylation of the IL-2 gene site 1, and the mother's rural residence (probably due to pesticide exposure) were predictive biomarkers for preterm birth. For the first time, we present the reference values for the methylation of IL-2 gene site 1 in PN and FN, which can be used in the clinical setting and biomonitoring.

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