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Rasmusson AJ, Gallwitz M, Soltanabadi B, Ciuculete DM, Mengel-From J, Christensen K, Nygaard M, Soerensen M, Boström AE, Fredriksson R, Freyhult E, Mwinyi J, Czamara D, Binder EB, Schiöth HB, Cunningham JL. Toll-like receptor 4 methylation grade is linked to depressive symptom severity. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:371. [PMID: 34226490 PMCID: PMC8257733 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01481-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores potential associations between the methylation of promoter-associated CpG sites of the toll-like receptor (TLR)-family, plasma levels of pro-inflammatory proteins and depressive symptoms in young female psychiatric patients. Ratings of depressive symptoms and blood samples were obtained from 92 young women seeking psychiatric care. Methylation of 32 promoter-associated CpG sites in TLR1 to TLR10 was analysed using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. Expression levels of 91 inflammatory proteins were determined by proximity extension assay. Statistical correlations between depressive state, TLR1-10 methylation and inflammatory proteins were investigated. Four additional cohorts were studied to evaluate the generalizability of the findings. In the discovery cohort, methylation grade of cg05429895 (TLR4) in blood was inversely correlated with depressive symptoms score in young adults. After correction for multiple testing, plasma levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β/CCL4) were associated with both TLR4 methylation and depressive symptom severity. A similar inverse association between TLR4 methylation in blood and affective symptoms score was also found in a cohort of 148 both males and females (<40 years of age) from the Danish Twin Registry. These findings were not, however, replicated in three other external cohorts; which differed from the first two cohorts by a higher age and mixed ethnicities, thus limiting the generalizability of our findings. However, TLR4 methylation inversely correlated with TLR4 mRNA expression in the Danish Twin Study indicating a functional significance of methylation at this particular CpG. Higher depression scores in young Scandinavian adults was associated with decreased methylation of TLR4 in blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annica J Rasmusson
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maike Gallwitz
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bardia Soltanabadi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Mengel-From
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mette Soerensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Adrian E Boström
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Uppsala University, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva Freyhult
- Department of Medical Sciences, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Janet L Cunningham
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Disentangling the relationship between bone turnover and glucose homeostasis: A prospective, population-based twin study. Bone Rep 2021; 14:100752. [PMID: 33665235 PMCID: PMC7900018 DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2021.100752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biochemical markers of bone turnover are lower in patients with type 2 diabetes, which may be explained by genetic variants being associated with type 2 diabetes and bone turnover as well as environmental factors. We hypothesized that bone turnover markers associate with and predict changes in glucose homeostasis after control for genetics and shared environment. Methods 1071 healthy, non-diabetic (at baseline, 1997-2000) adult mono- and dizygotic twins participating in the prospective study GEMINAKAR were reassessed between 2010 and 2012 with clinical evaluation, biochemical tests and oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting bone turnover markers (CTX, P1NP and osteocalcin) were measured. The association between bone turnover, glucose homeostasis and the ability of bone turnover markers to predict changes in glucose homeostasis were assessed in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Analyses were performed both at an individual level and adjusted for shared environmental and genetic factors. Results Glucose levels increased with age, and 33 (3%) participants had developed type 2 diabetes at follow-up. In women, bone turnover markers increased with age, whereas for men only osteocalcin increased with age. Bone turnover markers were not associated with fasting glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR at baseline or follow-up before or after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and use of medication at baseline. Variation in bone turnover markers was mainly explained by unique environmental factors, 70%, 70% and 55% for CTX, P1NP and osteocalcin, respectively, whereas additive genetic factors explained 7%, 13% and 45% of the variation in CTX, P1NP and osteocalcin. Conclusions Bone turnover markers were not associated with baseline plasma glucose levels and did not predict changes in glucose homeostasis. Variation in bone turnover markers is mainly explained by environmental factors, however, compared to CTX and P1NP, genetic factors have a larger impact on osteocalcin levels.
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Ashtree DN, McGuinness AJ, Plummer M, Sun C, Craig JM, Scurrah KJ. Developmental origins of cardiometabolic health outcomes in twins: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2020; 30:1609-1621. [PMID: 32682747 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Studies of twins can reduce confounding and provide additional evidence about the causes of disease, due to within-pair matching for measured and unmeasured factors. Although findings from twin studies are typically applicable to the general population, few studies have taken full advantage of the twin design to explore the developmental origins of cardiometabolic health outcomes. We aimed to systematically review the evidence from twin studies and generate pooled estimates for the effects of early-life risk factors on later-life cardiometabolic health. METHODS AND RESULTS An initial search was conducted in March 2018, with 55 studies of twins included in the review. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and eligible studies were included in a meta-analysis, where pooled estimates were calculated. Twenty-six studies analysed twins as individuals, and found that higher birthweight was associated with lower SBP (β = -2.02 mmHg, 95%CI: -3.07, -0.97), higher BMI (β = 0.52 kg/m2, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.84) and lower total cholesterol (β = -0.07 mmol/L, 95%CI: -0.11, -0.04). However, no associations were reported in studies which adjusted for gestational age. Few of the included studies separated their analyses into within-pair and between-pair associations. CONCLUSIONS Early-life risk factors were associated with cardiometabolic health outcomes in twin studies. However, many estimates from studies in this review were likely to have been confounded by gestational age, and few fully exploited the twin design to assess the developmental origins of cardiometabolic health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah N Ashtree
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Twins Research Australia, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
| | - Amelia J McGuinness
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Michelle Plummer
- Adelaide Medical School, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Cong Sun
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M Craig
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Katrina J Scurrah
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Twins Research Australia, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Abstract
The Danish Twin Registry (DTR) was established in the 1950s, when twins born from 1870 to 1910 were ascertained, and has since been extended to include twins from birth cohorts until 2009. The DTR currently comprises of more than 175,000 twins from the 140 birth cohorts. This makes the DTR the oldest nationwide twin register and among the largest in the world. The combination of data from several surveys, including biological samples and repeated measurements on the same individuals, and data from Danish national registers provides a unique resource for a wide range of twin studies. This article provides an updated overview of the data in the DTR: First, we provide a summary of the establishment of the register, the different ascertainment methods and the twins included; then follows an overview of major surveys conducted in the DTR since 1994 and a description of the DTR biobank, including a description of the molecular data created so far; finally, a short description is given of the linkage to Danish national registers at Statistics Denmark and some recent examples of studies using the various data resources in the DTR are highlighted.
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The Guinea-Bissau Twin Registry Update: A Platform for Studying Twin Mortality and Metabolic Disease. Twin Res Hum Genet 2019; 22:554-560. [PMID: 31317858 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest natural twinning rate in the world. Unfortunately, due to lack of adequate care during pregnancy, labor and postnatally, twin mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa also remains very high. Thus, it has been estimated that one in five twins dies during the childhood years. In spite of this, surprisingly few twin studies have been conducted in the region, making additional epidemiological data much needed. In 2009, we established one of the first twin registries in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau. The registry had two main objectives. First, we wanted to describe the twinning rate and mortality patterns among newborn twins, including mortality risk factors and hospitalization patterns. Such studies can help the local clinicians improve twin health by identifying the most vulnerable children. Second, and in light of the rapidly increasing diabetes rates in Africa, we wanted to use the registry to particularly focus on metabolic disorders. Twins are often born with low birth weight, which according to the 'thrifty phenotype hypothesis' could predispose them to metabolic disorders later in life. Yet, no such 'fetal programming' data have previously been available from African twins despite the fact that nutritional patterns and influences from other factors (e.g., infections) could be markedly different here compared to high-income settings. In this article, we summarize the findings and current status of the Guinea-Bissau twin registry.
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Soerensen M, Li W, Debrabant B, Nygaard M, Mengel-From J, Frost M, Christensen K, Christiansen L, Tan Q. Epigenome-wide exploratory study of monozygotic twins suggests differentially methylated regions to associate with hand grip strength. Biogerontology 2019; 20:627-647. [PMID: 31254144 PMCID: PMC6733812 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-019-09818-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Hand grip strength is a measure of muscular strength and is used to study age-related loss of physical capacity. In order to explore the biological mechanisms that influence hand grip strength variation, an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of hand grip strength in 672 middle-aged and elderly monozygotic twins (age 55–90 years) was performed, using both individual and twin pair level analyses, the latter controlling the influence of genetic variation. Moreover, as measurements of hand grip strength performed over 8 years were available in the elderly twins (age 73–90 at intake), a longitudinal EWAS was conducted for this subsample. No genome-wide significant CpG sites or pathways were found, however two of the suggestive top CpG sites were mapped to the COL6A1 and CACNA1B genes, known to be related to muscular dysfunction. By investigating genomic regions using the comb-p algorithm, several differentially methylated regions in regulatory domains were identified as significantly associated to hand grip strength, and pathway analyses of these regions revealed significant pathways related to the immune system, autoimmune disorders, including diabetes type 1 and viral myocarditis, as well as negative regulation of cell differentiation. The genes contributing to the immunological pathways were HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DMA, HLA-DPB1, MYH10, ERAP1 and IRF8, while the genes implicated in the negative regulation of cell differentiation were IRF8, CEBPD, ID2 and BRCA1. In conclusion, this exploratory study suggests hand grip strength to associate with differentially methylated regions enriched in immunological and cell differentiation pathways, and hence merits further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Soerensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. .,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Center for Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. .,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Weilong Li
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Birgit Debrabant
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Jonas Mengel-From
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Morten Frost
- Endocrine Research Unit, KMEB, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Lene Christiansen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
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Svane AM, Soerensen M, Lund J, Tan Q, Jylhävä J, Wang Y, Pedersen NL, Hägg S, Debrabant B, Deary IJ, Christensen K, Christiansen L, Hjelmborg JB. DNA Methylation and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-Aged and Elderly Danish Twins. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E78. [PMID: 29419728 PMCID: PMC5852574 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have linked DNA methylation at individual CpG sites to aging and various diseases. Recent studies have also identified single CpGs whose methylation levels are associated with all-cause mortality. In this study, we perform an epigenome-wide study of the association between CpG methylation and mortality in a population of 435 monozygotic twin pairs from three Danish twin studies. The participants were aged 55-90 at the time of blood sampling and were followed for up to 20 years. We validated our results by comparison with results from a British and a Swedish cohort, as well as results from the literature. We identified 2806 CpG sites associated with mortality (false discovery rate ( FDR ) < 0.05 ), of which 24 had an association p-value below 10 - 7 . This was confirmed by intra-pair comparison controlling for confounding effects. Eight of the 24 top sites could be validated in independent datasets or confirmed by previous studies. For all these eight sites, hypomethylation was associated with poor survival prognosis, and seven showed monozygotic correlations above 35%, indicating a potential moderate to strong heritability, but leaving room for substantial shared or unique environmental effects. We also set up a predictor for mortality using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The predictor showed good performance on the Danish data under cross-validation, but did not perform very well in independent samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie Svane
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Mette Soerensen
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Jesper Lund
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
- Unit of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Juulia Jylhävä
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Yunzhang Wang
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sara Hägg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Birgit Debrabant
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK.
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, lEdinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK.
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
- Unit of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Lene Christiansen
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Jacob B Hjelmborg
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
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Donovan EL, Buckels EJ, Hancock S, Smeitink D, Oliver MH, Bloomfield FH, Jaquiery AL. Twin Conception in Sheep Leads to Impaired Insulin Sensitivity and Sexually Dimorphic Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Phenotypes in Adulthood. Reprod Sci 2016; 24:865-881. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719116670516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elise L. Donovan
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Emma J. Buckels
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Serina Hancock
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Mark H. Oliver
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Frank H. Bloomfield
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anne L. Jaquiery
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Hennild DE, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Joaquím LC, Christensen K, Sodemann M, Beck-Nielsen H, Jensen DM. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and other types of dysglycaemia among young twins and singletons in Guinea-Bissau. BMC Endocr Disord 2016; 16:46. [PMID: 27491662 PMCID: PMC4973540 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-016-0126-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twins may be at increased risk of dysglycaemic disorders due to adverse fetal conditions. Data from Africa regarding this association is limited. We studied impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and other types of dysglycemia among twins and singletons in Guinea-Bissau. METHODS The study was conducted from February 2011 until March 2012 at the Bandim Health Project, a health and demographic surveillance system site in the capital Bissau. Twins (n = 209) and singletons (n = 182) were recruited from a previously established cohort. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed, along with anthropometrics and collection of clinical and dietary data. RESULTS Median age was 16.6 and 14.2 years between twins and singletons, respectively (P = 0.08). Mean birth weight was 2410 vs. 3090 g, respectively (P < 0.001). Twins had higher median fasting- and two hour capillary plasma glucose, 5.4(3.2-8.2) vs. 5.0(3.2-11.5) mmol/L (P < 0.001) and 6.8(3.4-11.3) vs. 6.2(3.2-12.1) mmol/L (P < 0.001), respectively, compared to singletons. The prevalence of IGT was 2.5 % (5/209) vs. 3.5 % (6/182) (RR = 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.20-2.64). 12 % (25/209) of twins had impaired fasting glucose (IFG), compared to 3.5 % (6/182) of singletons (3.63, 1.53-8.62). Dysglycemia (IGT and/or IFG or overt diabetes) was found in 17 % (35/209) vs. 9 % (16/182) (1.90, 1.08-3.37), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Twins had higher glucose levels in both the fasting and postprandial state. This may indicate a detrimental effect of the twin fetal environment on glucose metabolism later in life, a result contrary to Scandinavian register studies. The IGT burden was low in this young age group and the risk was similar in twins and singletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditte Egegaard Hennild
- Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau Codex, Guinea-Bissau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen
- Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau Codex, Guinea-Bissau
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 6, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Luis Carlos Joaquím
- Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau Codex, Guinea-Bissau
- Guinean Diabetes Association (ANDD), Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Morten Sodemann
- Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau Codex, Guinea-Bissau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Henning Beck-Nielsen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 6, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Elite Research Centre for Medical Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Dorte Møller Jensen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 6, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Elite Research Centre for Medical Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- The Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
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10
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Christiansen L, Lenart A, Tan Q, Vaupel JW, Aviv A, McGue M, Christensen K. DNA methylation age is associated with mortality in a longitudinal Danish twin study. Aging Cell 2016; 15:149-54. [PMID: 26594032 PMCID: PMC4717264 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An epigenetic profile defining the DNA methylation age (DNAm age) of an individual has been suggested to be a biomarker of aging, and thus possibly providing a tool for assessment of health and mortality. In this study, we estimated the DNAm age of 378 Danish twins, age 30–82 years, and furthermore included a 10‐year longitudinal study of the 86 oldest‐old twins (mean age of 86.1 at follow‐up), which subsequently were followed for mortality for 8 years. We found that the DNAm age is highly correlated with chronological age across all age groups (r = 0.97), but that the rate of change of DNAm age decreases with age. The results may in part be explained by selective mortality of those with a high DNAm age. This hypothesis was supported by a classical survival analysis showing a 35% (4–77%) increased mortality risk for each 5‐year increase in the DNAm age vs. chronological age. Furthermore, the intrapair twin analysis revealed a more‐than‐double mortality risk for the DNAm oldest twin compared to the co‐twin and a ‘dose–response pattern’ with the odds of dying first increasing 3.2 (1.05–10.1) times per 5‐year DNAm age difference within twin pairs, thus showing a stronger association of DNAm age with mortality in the oldest‐old when controlling for familial factors. In conclusion, our results support that DNAm age qualifies as a biomarker of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Christiansen
- The Danish Aging Research Center, and The Danish twin Registry Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
| | - Adam Lenart
- Max Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
| | - Qihua Tan
- The Danish Aging Research Center, and The Danish twin Registry Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics Odense University Hospital Odense Denmark
| | - James W. Vaupel
- Max Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Rostock Germany
| | - Abraham Aviv
- The Center for Human Development and Aging New Jersey Medical School University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Newark NJ USA
| | - Matt McGue
- The Danish Aging Research Center, and The Danish twin Registry Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Department of Psychology University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Aging Research Center, and The Danish twin Registry Institute of Public Health University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics Odense University Hospital Odense Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology Odense University Hospital Odense Denmark
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DNA Methylation Changes in the IGF1R Gene in Birth Weight Discordant Adult Monozygotic Twins. Twin Res Hum Genet 2015; 18:635-46. [DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) can have an impact on health outcomes in later life, especially in relation to pre-disposition to metabolic disease. Several studies suggest that LBW resulting from restricted intrauterine growth leaves a footprint on DNA methylation in utero, and this influence likely persists into adulthood. To investigate this further, we performed epigenome-wide association analyses of blood DNA methylation using Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip profiles in 71 adult monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs who were extremely discordant for birth weight. A signal mapping to the IGF1R gene (cg12562232, p = 2.62 × 10−8), was significantly associated with birth weight discordance at a genome-wide false-discovery rate (FDR) of 0.05. We pursued replication in three additional independent datasets of birth weight discordant MZ pairs and observed the same direction of association, but the results were not significant. However, a meta-analysis across the four independent samples, in total 216 birth-weight discordant MZ twin pairs, showed a significant positive association between birth weight and DNA methylation differences at IGF1R (random-effects meta-analysis p = .04), and the effect was particularly pronounced in older twins (random-effects meta-analysis p = .008, 98 older birth-weight discordant MZ twin pairs). The results suggest that severe intra-uterine growth differences (birth weight discordance >20%) are associated with methylation changes in the IGF1R gene in adulthood, independent of genetic effects.
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Tan Q, Frost M, Heijmans BT, von Bornemann Hjelmborg J, Tobi EW, Christensen K, Christiansen L. Epigenetic signature of birth weight discordance in adult twins. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1062. [PMID: 25476734 PMCID: PMC4302120 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A low birth weight has been extensively related to poor adult health outcomes. Birth weight can be seen as a proxy for environmental conditions during prenatal development. Identical twin pairs discordant for birth weight provide an extraordinary model for investigating the association between birth weight and adult life health while controlling for not only genetics but also postnatal rearing environment. We performed an epigenome-wide profiling on blood samples from 150 pairs of adult monozygotic twins discordant for birth weight to look for molecular evidence of epigenetic signatures in association with birth weight discordance. Results Our association analysis revealed no CpG site with genome-wide statistical significance (FDR < 0.05) for either qualitative (larger or smaller) or quantitative discordance in birth weight. Even with selected samples of extremely birth weight discordant twin pairs, no significant site was found except for 3 CpGs that displayed age-dependent intra-pair differential methylation with FDRs 0.014 (cg26856578, p = 3.42e-08), 0.0256 (cg15122603, p = 1.25e-07) and 0.0258 (cg16636641, p = 2.05e-07). Among the three sites, intra-pair differential methylation increased with age for cg26856578 but decreased with age for cg15122603 and cg16636641. There was no genome-wide statistical significance for sex-dependent effects on intra-pair differential methylation in either the whole samples or the extremely discordant twins. Conclusions Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling did not reveal epigenetic signatures of birth weight discordance although some sites displayed age-dependent intra-pair differential methylation in the extremely discordant twin pairs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1062) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J, B, Winsløws Vej 9B, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark.
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Vaag A, Brøns C, Gillberg L, Hansen NS, Hjort L, Arora GP, Thomas N, Broholm C, Ribel-Madsen R, Grunnet LG. Genetic, nongenetic and epigenetic risk determinants in developmental programming of type 2 diabetes. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2014; 93:1099-108. [PMID: 25179736 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Low birthweight (LBW) individuals and offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibit increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated cardiometabolic traits in adulthood, which for both groups may be mediated by adverse events and developmental changes in fetal life. T2D is a multifactorial disease occurring as a result of complicated interplay between genetic and both prenatal and postnatal nongenetic factors, and it remains unknown to what extent the increased risk of T2D associated with LBW or GDM in the mother may be due to, or confounded by, genetic factors. Indeed, it has been shown that genetic changes influencing risk of diabetes may also be associated with reduced fetal growth as a result of reduced insulin secretion and/or action. Similarly, increased risk of T2D among offspring could be explained by T2D susceptibility genes shared between the mother and her offspring. Epigenetic mechanisms may explain the link between factors operating in fetal life and later risk of developing T2D, but so far convincing evidence is lacking for epigenetic changes as a prime and direct cause of T2D. This review addresses recent literature on the early origins of adult disease hypothesis, with a special emphasis on the role of genetic compared with nongenetic and epigenetic risk determinants and disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Vaag
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet University Hospital/Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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14
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Svendsen AJ, Kyvik KO, Houen G, Nielsen C, Holst R, Skytthe A, Junker P. Newborn infant characteristics and risk of future rheumatoid arthritis: a twin-control study. Rheumatol Int 2013; 34:523-8. [PMID: 24190231 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-013-2886-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Low birth weight has been proposed as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The twin-control study design provides an opportunity to investigate the significance of potential prenatal determinants for adult morbidity by accounting for maternal characteristics and early environmental and genetic factors. We investigated the association between birth weight and RA in a sample of 42 twin pairs discordant for rheumatoid arthritis in which valid information on birth weight, birth length, and order was available from midwife records. Difference plot and conditional logistic regression were used to investigate the relationship between RA and birth weight or birth order adjusting for birth length and sex. The intra-pairwise birth weight differences, i.e., RA twin minus co-twin, ranged from -750 to 1,100 g, mean 78 g (95 % CI -13 to 70), 146 g (95 % CI (-36 to 329) in monozygotic, 32 g (95 % CI -90 to 154) in dizygotic, same sex and 69 g (95 % CI -122 to 260) in dizygotic, opposite sex twin pairs. The odds ratio for birth weight as risk factor for RA was 1.00 (95 % CI 0.997-1.003) when adjusting for birth length, birth order, and sex, irrespective of ACPA status. The odds ratio for developing RA as first born twin was 2.33 (95 % CI 0.97-5.60) when adjusting for birth length, birth weight, and sex, irrespective of ACPA status. In this twin-control study, birth weight was not associated with the development of RA in adult life. Being born first may predispose to RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders J Svendsen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B.Winsløwsvej 9B, 5000, Odense C, Denmark,
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15
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Sorensen K, Juul A, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Scheike T, Kold Jensen T. Birth size and age at menarche: a twin perspective. Hum Reprod 2013; 28:2865-71. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/det283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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16
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The Danish Twin Registry: linking surveys, national registers, and biological information. Twin Res Hum Genet 2012; 16:104-11. [PMID: 23084092 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2012.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 60 years, the resources and the research in the Danish Twin Registry (DTR) have periodically been summarized. Here, we give a short overview of the DTR and a more comprehensive description of new developments in the twenty-first century. First, we outline our experience over the last decade of combining questionnaire and survey data with national demographic, social, and health registers in Statistics Denmark. Second, we describe our most recent data collection effort, which was conducted during the period 2008-2011 and included both in-person assessments of 14,000+ twins born 1931-1969 and sampling of biological material, hereby expanding and consolidating the DTR biobank. Third, two examples of intensively studied twin cohorts are given. The new developments in the DTR in the last decade have facilitated the ongoing research and laid the groundwork for new research directions.
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