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Chun S, Kim MJ, Shin PK, Park SJ, Yang HJ, Kim JH, Lee KH, Hong M, Kwon DY, Friso S, Lee HJ, Kim MS, Choi SW. Traditional Korean diet high in one-carbon nutrients increases global DNA methylation: implication for epigenetic diet. Eur J Nutr 2024:10.1007/s00394-024-03442-7. [PMID: 38867083 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03442-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE DNA methylation is a major epigenetic phenomenon through which diet affects health and disease. This study aimed to determine the epigenetic influence of the traditional Korean diet (K-diet) on global DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism. METHODS A crossover study was conducted on 52 women. Two diets, a K-diet, high in plant foods and low in calories and animal fat, and a control diet, similar to the diet currently consumed in Korea, were provided to all subjects alternately for 4 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Clinical parameters were measured before and after each dietary intervention. Nutrient intake was calculated by using a computer-aided nutritional analysis program. One-carbon metabolites in the serum and global DNA methylation in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The K-diet group consumed more folate (669.9 ± 6.7 µg vs. 502.7 ± 3.0, p < 0.001), B6, B12, serine, and choline, and less methionine (992.6 ± 63 vs. 1048.3 mg ± 34.1, p < 0.0001) than the control group did. In the K-diet group, the increment of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (0.08 µg/mL ± 0.11 vs 0.02 ± 0.10, p < 0.009) and decrement of L-homocysteine (- 70.7 ± 85.0 vs - 39.3 ± 69.4, p < 0.0168) were greater than those of the control group. Global DNA methylation was significantly increased in the K-diet group (6.70 ± 3.02% to 9.45 ± 3.69, p < 0.0001) but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS A K-diet high in one-carbon nutrients can enhance the global DNA methylation status, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism by which the K-diet conveys health effects. Trial registration Korean Clinical Trial Registry (trial number: KCT0005340, 24/08/2020, retrospectively registered).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukyung Chun
- Department of Gastroenterology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, 13496, South Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea
| | - Phil-Kyung Shin
- CHA Bio Complex, CHA University, Seongnam, 13488, South Korea
| | - Seon-Joo Park
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
- Institute for Aging and Clinical Nutrition Research, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
| | - Hye Jeong Yang
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea
| | - Jin Hee Kim
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea
| | - Kyun-Hee Lee
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Wanju, 55365, South Korea
| | - Moonju Hong
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Wanju, 55365, South Korea
| | - Dae Young Kwon
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, South Korea
| | - Simonetta Friso
- Unit of Internal Medicine B and 'Epigenomics and Gene-Nutrient Interactions' Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine, Policlinico "G.B. Rossi," P. le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Hae-Jeung Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
- Institute for Aging and Clinical Nutrition Research, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, South Korea
| | - Myung-Sunny Kim
- Research Group of Personalized Diet, Korea Food Research Institute, 245 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, South Korea.
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Wanju, 55365, South Korea.
| | - Sang-Woon Choi
- Chaum Life Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 442 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06062, South Korea.
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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Armani-Tourret M, Bone B, Tan TS, Sun W, Bellefroid M, Struyve T, Louella M, Yu XG, Lichterfeld M. Immune targeting of HIV-1 reservoir cells: a path to elimination strategies and cure. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:328-344. [PMID: 38337034 PMCID: PMC11131351 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01010-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Successful approaches for eradication or cure of HIV-1 infection are likely to include immunological mechanisms, but remarkably little is known about how human immune responses can recognize and interact with the few HIV-1-infected cells that harbour genome-intact viral DNA, persist long term despite antiretroviral therapy and represent the main barrier to a cure. For a long time regarded as being completely shielded from host immune responses due to viral latency, these cells do, on closer examination with single-cell analytic techniques, display discrete footprints of immune selection, implying that human immune responses may be able to effectively engage and target at least some of these cells. The failure to eliminate rebound-competent virally infected cells in the majority of persons likely reflects the evolution of a highly selected pool of reservoir cells that are effectively camouflaged from immune recognition or rely on sophisticated approaches for resisting immune-mediated killing. Understanding the fine-tuned interplay between host immune responses and viral reservoir cells will help to design improved interventions that exploit the immunological vulnerabilities of HIV-1 reservoir cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Armani-Tourret
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Bone
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Toong Seng Tan
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Weiwei Sun
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maxime Bellefroid
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tine Struyve
- HIV Cure Research Center, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michael Louella
- Community Advisory Board, Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE), San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Xu G Yu
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mathias Lichterfeld
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Bashi MA, Ad'hiah AH. Molecular landscape of the interleukin-40 encoding gene, C17orf99, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Gene 2024; 904:148214. [PMID: 38286266 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant hematological disorder in which aberrant cytokine signaling and inflammation play a role in disease initiation and progression. Interleukin-40 (IL-40) is a novel cytokine encoded by the chromosome 17 open reading frame 99 (C17orf99) gene. This cytokine is involved in mediating inflammation but its biological significance in the pathogenesis of AML has not been investigated. In this case-control and observational study, mRNA expression and DNA methylation of the C17orf99 gene were evaluated in the peripheral blood of AML patients. In addition, the polymorphism of two novel intergenic variants of the C17orf99 gene, rs2004339 A/G and rs2310998 G/A, were explored using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. The study was conducted on 131 patients with AML and 106 controls and gene expression and DNA methylation were expressed as fold-change (2-ΔΔCt). Results revealed that mRNA expression of the C17orf99 gene was down-regulated in AML patients, particularly in females, while up-regulated expression was found in patients with hypoalbuminemia. For DNA methylation, it was up-regulated in AML patients, particularly in females, AML M5 subtype, and CD4-negative and CD14-positive peripheral blood cells. The mutant A allele and the corresponding homozygous AA genotype of rs2004339 was significantly associated with an increased risk of AML. The AA genotype was also associated with significantly up-regulated C17orf99 mRNA expression and DNA methylation of compared to the wild-type GG genotype. In conclusions, C17orf99 mRNA expression showed down-regulated levels in the peripheral blood of AML patients, while DNA methylation was up-regulated. The intergenic variant rs2004339 was associated with susceptibility to AML and had an effect on mRNA expression and DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa A Bashi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali H Ad'hiah
- Tropical-Biological Research Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
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Meyer B, Stirzaker C, Ramkomuth S, Harvey K, Chan B, Lee CS, Karim R, Deng N, Avery-Kiejda KA, Scott RJ, Lakhani S, Fox S, Robbins E, Shin JS, Beith J, Gill A, Sioson L, Chan C, Krishnaswamy M, Cooper C, Warrier S, Mak C, Rasko JE, Bailey CG, Swarbrick A, Clark SJ, O'Toole S, Pidsley R. Detailed DNA methylation characterisation of phyllodes tumours identifies a signature of malignancy and distinguishes phyllodes from metaplastic breast carcinoma. J Pathol 2024; 262:480-494. [PMID: 38300122 DOI: 10.1002/path.6250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Phyllodes tumours (PTs) are rare fibroepithelial lesions of the breast that are classified as benign, borderline, or malignant. As little is known about the molecular underpinnings of PTs, current diagnosis relies on histological examination. However, accurate classification is often difficult, particularly for distinguishing borderline from malignant PTs. Furthermore, PTs can be misdiagnosed as other tumour types with shared histological features, such as fibroadenoma and metaplastic breast cancers. As DNA methylation is a recognised hallmark of many cancers, we hypothesised that DNA methylation could provide novel biomarkers for diagnosis and tumour stratification in PTs, whilst also allowing insight into the molecular aetiology of this otherwise understudied tumour. We generated whole-genome methylation data using the Illumina EPIC microarray in a novel PT cohort (n = 33) and curated methylation microarray data from published datasets including PTs and other potentially histopathologically similar tumours (total n = 817 samples). Analyses revealed that PTs have a unique methylome compared to normal breast tissue and to potentially histopathologically similar tumours (metaplastic breast cancer, fibroadenoma and sarcomas), with PT-specific methylation changes enriched in gene sets involved in KRAS signalling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Next, we identified 53 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) (false discovery rate < 0.05) that specifically delineated malignant from non-malignant PTs. The top DMR in both discovery and validation cohorts was hypermethylation at the HSD17B8 CpG island promoter. Matched PT single-cell expression data showed that HSD17B8 had minimal expression in fibroblast (putative tumour) cells. Finally, we created a methylation classifier to distinguish PTs from metaplastic breast cancer samples, where we revealed a likely misdiagnosis for two TCGA metaplastic breast cancer samples. In conclusion, DNA methylation alterations are associated with PT histopathology and hold the potential to improve our understanding of PT molecular aetiology, diagnostics, and risk stratification. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braydon Meyer
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Clare Stirzaker
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sonny Ramkomuth
- Tumour Progression Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kate Harvey
- Tumour Progression Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Belinda Chan
- Department of Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cheok Soon Lee
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Anatomical Pathology and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Pathology, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rooshdiya Karim
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Niantao Deng
- Tumour Progression Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelly A Avery-Kiejda
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Medical Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rodney J Scott
- Discipline of Medical Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sunil Lakhani
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Pathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephen Fox
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Robbins
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joo-Shik Shin
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane Beith
- Psycho-Oncology Co-Operative Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony Gill
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Loretta Sioson
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charles Chan
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Concord Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mrudula Krishnaswamy
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Concord Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Caroline Cooper
- Anatomical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sanjay Warrier
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical Program, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cindy Mak
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Ej Rasko
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charles G Bailey
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cancer and Gene Regulation Laboratory Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexander Swarbrick
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Tumour Progression Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susan J Clark
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sandra O'Toole
- Tumour Progression Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruth Pidsley
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Tesfaye M, Spindola LM, Stavrum AK, Shadrin A, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Le Hellard S. Sex effects on DNA methylation affect discovery in epigenome-wide association study of schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02513-9. [PMID: 38503926 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02513-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences in the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of schizophrenia are well-known; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear. Further, the potential advantages of sex-stratified meta-analyses of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of schizophrenia have not been investigated. Here, we performed sex-stratified EWAS meta-analyses to investigate whether sex stratification improves discovery, and to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in schizophrenia. Peripheral blood-derived DNA methylation data from 1519 cases of schizophrenia (male n = 989, female n = 530) and 1723 controls (male n = 997, female n = 726) from three publicly available datasets, and the TOP cohort were meta-analyzed to compare sex-specific, sex-stratified, and sex-adjusted EWAS. The predictive power of each model was assessed by polymethylation score (PMS). The number of schizophrenia-associated differentially methylated positions identified was higher for the sex-stratified model than for the sex-adjusted one. We identified 20 schizophrenia-associated DMRs in the sex-stratified analysis. PMS from sex-stratified analysis outperformed that from sex-adjusted analysis in predicting schizophrenia. Notably, PMSs from the sex-stratified and female-only analyses, but not those from sex-adjusted or the male-only analyses, significantly predicted schizophrenia in males. The findings suggest that sex-stratified EWAS meta-analyses improve the identification of schizophrenia-associated epigenetic changes and highlight an interaction between sex and schizophrenia status on DNA methylation. Sex-specific DNA methylation may have potential implications for precision psychiatry and the development of stratified treatments for schizophrenia.
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Grants
- 273291, 273446, 326813, 223273 Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway)
- 273291, 273446, 326813, 223273 Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway)
- 273291, 273446, 326813, 223273 Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway)
- 273291, 273446, 326813, 223273 Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway)
- 273291, 273446, 326813, 223273 Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway)
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Affiliation(s)
- Markos Tesfaye
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Leticia M Spindola
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Dr. Einar Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Bergen Center for Brain Plasticity, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anne-Kristin Stavrum
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Dr. Einar Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Melle
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie Le Hellard
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
- Dr. Einar Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Medical Genetics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
- Bergen Center for Brain Plasticity, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
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Bridges J, Ramirez-Guerrero JA, Rosa-Garrido M. Gender-specific genetic and epigenetic signatures in cardiovascular disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1355980. [PMID: 38529333 PMCID: PMC10962446 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1355980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac sex differences represent a pertinent focus in pursuit of the long-awaited goal of personalized medicine. Despite evident disparities in the onset and progression of cardiac pathology between sexes, historical oversight has led to the neglect of gender-specific considerations in the treatment of patients. This oversight is attributed to a predominant focus on male samples and a lack of sex-based segregation in patient studies. Recognizing these sex differences is not only relevant to the treatment of cisgender individuals; it also holds paramount importance in addressing the healthcare needs of transgender patients, a demographic that is increasingly prominent in contemporary society. In response to these challenges, various agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, have actively directed their efforts toward advancing our comprehension of this phenomenon. Epigenetics has proven to play a crucial role in understanding sex differences in both healthy and disease states within the heart. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the physiological distinctions between males and females during the development of various cardiac pathologies, specifically focusing on unraveling the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms at play. Current findings related to distinct sex-chromosome compositions, the emergence of gender-biased genetic variations, and variations in hormonal profiles between sexes are highlighted. Additionally, the roles of DNA methylation, histone marks, and chromatin structure in mediating pathological sex differences are explored. To inspire further investigation into this crucial subject, we have conducted global analyses of various epigenetic features, leveraging data previously generated by the ENCODE project.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manuel Rosa-Garrido
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Terho AM, Tiitinen A, Salo J, Martikainen H, Gissler M, Pelkonen S. Growth of singletons born after frozen embryo transfer until early adulthood: a Finnish register study. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:604-611. [PMID: 38177081 PMCID: PMC10905505 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are there growth differences between singleton children born after frozen embryo transfer (FET), fresh embryo transfer (ET), and natural conception (NC)? SUMMARY ANSWER Adolescent boys born after FET have a higher mean proportion and increased odds of overweight compared to those born after fresh ET. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Children born after FET have higher mean birthweights and an increased risk of large-for-gestational-age compared to those born after fresh ET and even NC. This raises questions about possible growth differences later in childhood. Previous studies on child growth after FET report partly conflicting results and lack long-term data until adolescence. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a cohort study based on national population-based registers, the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Register of Primary Health Care visits, including singletons born after FET (n = 1825), fresh ET (n = 2933), and NC (n = 31 136) in Finland between the years 1995 and 2006. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The proportions of overweight (i.e. age- and sex-adjusted ISO-BMI for children ≥ 25) were compared between the groups. Odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of overweight were calculated. Adjustments were made for birth year, preterm birth, maternal age, parity, and socioeconomic status. Mean heights, weights, and BMIs were compared between the groups each year between the ages of 7 and 18. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE FET boys had a higher mean proportion of overweight (28%) compared to fresh ET (22%, P < 0.001) and NC (26%, P = 0.014) boys. For all ages combined, the aOR of overweight was increased (1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.27) for FET boys compared to fresh ET boys. For girls, the mean proportions of overweight were 18%, 19%, and 22% for those born after FET, fresh ET, and NC, respectively (P = 0.169 for FET vs fresh ET, P < 0.001 for FET vs NC). For all ages combined, FET girls had a decreased aOR of overweight (0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99) compared to NC girls. Growth measurements were available for 6.9% to 30.6% of FET boys and for 4.7% to 29.4% of FET girls at different ages. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Unfortunately, we were not able to adjust for parental anthropometric characteristics. The growth data were not available for the whole cohort, and the proportion of children with available measurements was limited at the start and end of the follow-up. During the study period, mainly cleavage stage embryos were transferred, and slow freezing was used for ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The risk of overweight among FET boys warrants further research. Future studies should aim to investigate the mechanisms that explain this sex-specific finding and combine growth data with long-term health data to explore the possible risks of overweight and cardiometabolic disease in adulthood. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Funding was obtained from the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Alma and K.A. Snellman Foundation (personal grants to A.M.T.), and the Finnish Government Research Funding. The funding sources were not involved in the planning or execution of the study. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Terho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine & Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - A Tiitinen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Salo
- Department of Children and Adolescents, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine & Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - H Martikainen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine & Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - M Gissler
- Department of Knowledge Brokers, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Academic Primary Health Care Centre, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S Pelkonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine & Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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8
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Sanchez-Flores M, Corral-Juan M, Gasch-Navalón E, Cirillo D, Sanchez I, Matilla-Dueñas A. Novel genotype-phenotype correlations, differential cerebellar allele-specific methylation, and a common origin of the (ATTTC) n insertion in spinocerebellar ataxia type 37. Hum Genet 2024; 143:211-232. [PMID: 38396267 PMCID: PMC11043136 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-024-02644-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia subtype 37 (SCA37) is a rare disease originally identified in ataxia patients from the Iberian Peninsula with a pure cerebellar syndrome. SCA37 patients carry a pathogenic intronic (ATTTC)n repeat insertion flanked by two polymorphic (ATTTT)n repeats in the Disabled-1 (DAB1) gene leading to cerebellar dysregulation. Herein, we determine the precise configuration of the pathogenic 5'(ATTTT)n-(ATTTC)n-3'(ATTTT)n SCA37 alleles by CRISPR-Cas9 and long-read nanopore sequencing, reveal their epigenomic signatures in SCA37 lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and cerebellar samples, and establish new molecular and clinical correlations. The 5'(ATTTT)n-(ATTTC)n-3'(ATTTT)n pathogenic allele configurations revealed repeat instability and differential methylation signatures. Disease age of onset negatively correlated with the (ATTTC)n, and positively correlated with the 3'(ATTTT)n. Geographic origin and gender significantly correlated with age of onset. Furthermore, significant predictive regression models were obtained by machine learning for age of onset and disease evolution by considering gender, the (ATTTC)n, the 3'(ATTTT)n, and seven CpG positions differentially methylated in SCA37 cerebellum. A common 964-kb genomic region spanning the (ATTTC)n insertion was identified in all SCA37 patients analysed from Portugal and Spain, evidencing a common origin of the SCA37 mutation in the Iberian Peninsula originating 859 years ago (95% CI 647-1378). In conclusion, we demonstrate an accurate determination of the size and configuration of the regulatory 5'(ATTTT)n-(ATTTC)n-3'(ATTTT)n repeat tract, avoiding PCR bias amplification using CRISPR/Cas9-enrichment and nanopore long-read sequencing, resulting relevant for accurate genetic diagnosis of SCA37. Moreover, we determine novel significant genotype-phenotype correlations in SCA37 and identify differential cerebellar allele-specific methylation signatures that may underlie DAB1 pathogenic dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Sanchez-Flores
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Can Ruti Campus, Carretera de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Marc Corral-Juan
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Can Ruti Campus, Carretera de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Esther Gasch-Navalón
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Can Ruti Campus, Carretera de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | | | - Ivelisse Sanchez
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Can Ruti Campus, Carretera de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Antoni Matilla-Dueñas
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona-Can Ruti Campus, Carretera de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain.
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9
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Walsh JR, Sun G, Balan J, Hardcastle J, Vollenweider J, Jerde C, Rumilla K, Koellner C, Koleilat A, Hasadsri L, Kipp B, Jenkinson G, Klee E. A supervised learning method for classifying methylation disorders. BMC Bioinformatics 2024; 25:66. [PMID: 38347515 PMCID: PMC10863277 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-024-05673-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation is one of the most stable and well-characterized epigenetic alterations in humans. Accordingly, it has already found clinical utility as a molecular biomarker in a variety of disease contexts. Existing methods for clinical diagnosis of methylation-related disorders focus on outlier detection in a small number of CpG sites using standardized cutoffs which differentiate healthy from abnormal methylation levels. The standardized cutoff values used in these methods do not take into account methylation patterns which are known to differ between the sexes and with age. RESULTS Here we profile genome-wide DNA methylation from blood samples drawn from within a cohort composed of healthy controls of different age and sex alongside patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and Silver-Russell syndrome. We propose a Generalized Additive Model to perform age and sex adjusted outlier analysis of around 700,000 CpG sites throughout the human genome. Utilizing z-scores among the cohort for each site, we deployed an ensemble based machine learning pipeline and achieved a combined prediction accuracy of 0.96 (Binomial 95% Confidence Interval 0.868[Formula: see text]0.995). CONCLUSION We demonstrate a method for age and sex adjusted outlier detection of differentially methylated loci based on a large cohort of healthy individuals. We present a custom machine learning pipeline utilizing this outlier analysis to classify samples for potential methylation associated congenital disorders. These methods are able to achieve high accuracy when used with machine learning methods to classify abnormal methylation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alaa Koleilat
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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10
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Hoang TT, Lee Y, McCartney DL, Kersten ETG, Page CM, Hulls PM, Lee M, Walker RM, Breeze CE, Bennett BD, Burkholder AB, Ward J, Brantsæter AL, Caspersen IH, Motsinger-Reif AA, Richards M, White JD, Zhao S, Richmond RC, Magnus MC, Koppelman GH, Evans KL, Marioni RE, Håberg SE, London SJ. Comprehensive evaluation of smoking exposures and their interactions on DNA methylation. EBioMedicine 2024; 100:104956. [PMID: 38199042 PMCID: PMC10825325 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smoking impacts DNA methylation, but data are lacking on smoking-related differential methylation by sex or dietary intake, recent smoking cessation (<1 year), persistence of differential methylation from in utero smoking exposure, and effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). METHODS We meta-analysed data from up to 15,014 adults across 5 cohorts with DNA methylation measured in blood using Illumina's EPIC array for current smoking (2560 exposed), quit < 1 year (500 exposed), in utero (286 exposed), and ETS exposure (676 exposed). We also evaluated the interaction of current smoking with sex or diet (fibre, folate, and vitamin C). FINDINGS Using false discovery rate (FDR < 0.05), 65,857 CpGs were differentially methylated in relation to current smoking, 4025 with recent quitting, 594 with in utero exposure, and 6 with ETS. Most current smoking CpGs attenuated within a year of quitting. CpGs related to in utero exposure in adults were enriched for those previously observed in newborns. Differential methylation by current smoking at 4-71 CpGs may be modified by sex or dietary intake. Nearly half (35-50%) of differentially methylated CpGs on the 450 K array were associated with blood gene expression. Current smoking and in utero smoking CpGs implicated 3049 and 1067 druggable targets, including chemotherapy drugs. INTERPRETATION Many smoking-related methylation sites were identified with Illumina's EPIC array. Most signals revert to levels observed in never smokers within a year of cessation. Many in utero smoking CpGs persist into adulthood. Smoking-related druggable targets may provide insights into cancer treatment response and shared mechanisms across smoking-related diseases. FUNDING Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research, Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates and the Scottish Funding Council, Medical Research Council UK and the Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh T Hoang
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yunsung Lee
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel L McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Elin T G Kersten
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Dept. of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Christian M Page
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Physical Health and Ageing, Division for Physical and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paige M Hulls
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Mikyeong Lee
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rosie M Walker
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Perry Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Charles E Breeze
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O'Gorman Building, London, UK; Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian D Bennett
- Department of Health and Human Services, Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Adam B Burkholder
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Environmental Science Cyberinfrastructure, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - James Ward
- Department of Health and Human Services, Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Department of Food Safety, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida H Caspersen
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alison A Motsinger-Reif
- Department of Health and Human Services, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Julie D White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; GenOmics and Translational Research Center, Analytics Practice Area, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Department of Health and Human Services, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Richmond
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Maria C Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gerard H Koppelman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Dept. of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kathryn L Evans
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Siri E Håberg
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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11
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Legault LM, Breton-Larrivée M, Langford-Avelar A, Lemieux A, McGraw S. Sex-based disparities in DNA methylation and gene expression in late-gestation mouse placentas. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:2. [PMID: 38183126 PMCID: PMC10770955 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00577-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is vital for fetal development and its contributions to various developmental issues, such as pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction, and maternal exposure, have been extensively studied in mice. The placenta forms mainly from fetal tissue and therefore has the same biological sex as the fetus it supports. Extensive research has delved into the placenta's involvement in pregnancy complications and future offspring development, with a notable emphasis on exploring sex-specific disparities. However, despite these investigations, sex-based disparities in epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) and transcriptomic features of the late-gestation mouse placenta remain largely unknown. METHODS We collected male and female mouse placentas at late gestation (E18.5, n = 3/sex) and performed next-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide sex differences in transcription and DNA methylation. RESULTS Our comparison between male and female revealed 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) on autosomes, which were associated with signaling pathways involved in transmembrane transport and the responses to viruses and external stimuli. X chromosome DEGs (n = 39) were associated with different pathways, including those regulating chromatin modification and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were more common on the X chromosomes (n = 3756) than on autosomes (n = 1705). Interestingly, while most X chromosome DMRs had higher DNA methylation levels in female placentas and tended to be included in CpG dinucleotide-rich regions, 73% of autosomal DMRs had higher methylation levels in male placentas and were distant from CpG-rich regions. Several DEGs were correlated with DMRs. A subset of the DMRs present in late-stage placentas were already established in mid-gestation (E10.5) placentas (n = 348 DMRs on X chromosome and 19 DMRs on autosomes), while others were acquired later in placental development. CONCLUSION Our study provides comprehensive lists of DEGs and DMRs between male and female that collectively cause profound differences in the DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of late-gestation mouse placentas. Our results demonstrate the importance of incorporating sex-specific analyses into epigenetic and transcription studies to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of their conclusions and help address the significant knowledge gap regarding how sex differences influence placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Legault
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Anthony Lemieux
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
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12
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Kalyakulina A, Yusipov I, Kondakova E, Bacalini MG, Giuliani C, Sivtseva T, Semenov S, Ksenofontov A, Nikolaeva M, Khusnutdinova E, Zakharova R, Vedunova M, Franceschi C, Ivanchenko M. Epigenetics of the far northern Yakutian population. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:189. [PMID: 38053163 PMCID: PMC10699032 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01600-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yakuts are one of the indigenous populations of the subarctic and arctic territories of Siberia characterized by a continental subarctic climate with severe winters, with the regular January average temperature in the regional capital city of Yakutsk dipping below - 40 °C. The epigenetic mechanisms of adaptation to such ecologies and environments and, in particular, epigenetic age acceleration in the local population have not been studied before. RESULTS This work reports the first epigenetic study of the Yakutian population using whole-blood DNA methylation data, supplemented with the comparison to the residents of Central Russia. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed, among others, geographic region-specific differentially methylated regions associated with adaptation to climatic conditions (water consumption, digestive system regulation), aging processes (actin filament activity, cell fate), and both of them (channel activity, regulation of steroid and corticosteroid hormone secretion). Further, it is demonstrated that the epigenetic age acceleration of the Yakutian representatives is significantly higher than that of Central Russia counterparts. For both geographic regions, we showed that epigenetically males age faster than females, whereas no significant sex differences were found between the regions. CONCLUSIONS We performed the first study of the epigenetic data of the Yakutia cohort, paying special attention to region-specific features, aging processes, age acceleration, and sex specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Kalyakulina
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia.
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia.
| | - Igor Yusipov
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Elena Kondakova
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | | | - Cristina Giuliani
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tatiana Sivtseva
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Sergey Semenov
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Artem Ksenofontov
- State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Republican Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention, Yakutsk, 677001, Russia
| | - Maria Nikolaeva
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Elza Khusnutdinova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russia, 450054
| | - Raisa Zakharova
- Research Center of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University M.K. Ammosova, Yakutsk, 677013, Russia
| | - Maria Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - Mikhail Ivanchenko
- Institute of Information Technologies, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
- Institute of Biogerontology, Lobachevsky State University, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
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13
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Reiner A, Bakulski KM, Fisher JD, Dou JF, Schneper L, Mitchell C, Notterman DA, Zawistowski M, Ware EB. Sex-specific DNA methylation in saliva from the multi-ethnic Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2222244. [PMID: 37300819 PMCID: PMC10259311 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2222244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence and severity of many diseases differs by sex, potentially due to sex-specific patterns in DNA methylation. Autosomal sex-specific differences in DNA methylation have been observed in cord blood and placental tissue but are not well studied in saliva or in diverse populations. We sought to characterize sex-specific DNA methylation on autosomal chromosomes in saliva samples from children in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a multi-ethnic prospective birth cohort containing an oversampling of Black, Hispanic and low-income families. DNA methylation from saliva samples was analysed on 796 children (50.6% male) at both ages 9 and 15 with DNA methylation measured using the Illumina HumanMethylation 450k array. An epigenome-wide association analysis of the age 9 samples identified 8,430 sex-differentiated autosomal DNA methylation sites (P < 2.4 × 10-7), of which 76.2% had higher DNA methylation in female children. The strongest sex-difference was in the cg26921482 probe, in the AMDHD2 gene, with 30.6% higher DNA methylation in female compared to male children (P < 1 × 10-300). Treating the age 15 samples as an internal replication set, we observed highly consistent results between the ages 9 and 15 measurements, indicating stable and replicable sex-differentiation. Further, we directly compared our results to previously published DNA methylation sex differences in both cord blood and saliva and again found strong consistency. Our findings support widespread and robust sex-differential DNA methylation across age, human tissues, and populations. These findings help inform our understanding of potential biological processes contributing to sex differences in human physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Reiner
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonah D Fisher
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - John F Dou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel A Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Matthew Zawistowski
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Erin B Ware
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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14
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Zhang L, Li J. Unlocking the secrets: the power of methylation-based cfDNA detection of tissue damage in organ systems. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:168. [PMID: 37858233 PMCID: PMC10588141 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01585-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detecting organ and tissue damage is essential for early diagnosis, treatment decisions, and monitoring disease progression. Methylation-based assays offer a promising approach, as DNA methylation patterns can change in response to tissue damage. These assays have potential applications in early detection, monitoring disease progression, evaluating treatment efficacy, and assessing organ viability for transplantation. cfDNA released into the bloodstream upon tissue or organ injury can serve as a biomarker for damage. The epigenetic state of cfDNA, including DNA methylation patterns, can provide insights into the extent of tissue and organ damage. CONTENT Firstly, this review highlights DNA methylation as an extensively studied epigenetic modification that plays a pivotal role in processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and disease development. It then presents a variety of highly precise 5-mC methylation detection techniques that serve as powerful tools for gaining profound insights into epigenetic alterations linked with tissue damage. Subsequently, the review delves into the mechanisms underlying DNA methylation changes in organ and tissue damage, encompassing inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage repair mechanisms. Next, it addresses the current research status of cfDNA methylation in the detection of specific organ tissues and organ damage. Finally, it provides an overview of the multiple steps involved in identifying specific methylation markers associated with tissue and organ damage for clinical trials. This review will explore the mechanisms and current state of research on cfDNA methylation-based assay detecting organ and tissue damage, the underlying mechanisms, and potential applications in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijing Zhang
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Beijing, 100730, People's Republic of China
- Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinming Li
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Beijing, 100730, People's Republic of China.
- Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Sommer AJ, Okonkwo J, Monteiro J, Bind MAC. A permutation-based approach using a rank-based statistic to identify sex differences in epigenetics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14838. [PMID: 37684282 PMCID: PMC10491832 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic sex differences and their resulting implications for human health have been studied for about a decade. The objective of this paper is to use permutation-based inference and a new ranked-based test statistic to identify sex-based epigenetic differences in the human DNA methylome. In particular, we examine whether we could identify separations between the female and male distributions of DNA methylation across hundred of thousands CpG sites in two independent cohorts, the Swedish Adoption Twin study and the Lamarck study. Based on Fisherian p-values, we set a threshold for methylation differences "worth further scrutiny". At this threshold, we were able to confirm previously-found CpG sites that stratify with respect to sex. These CpG sites with sex differences in DNA methylation should be further investigated for their possible contribution to various physiological and pathological functions in the human body. We followed-up our statistical analyses with a literature review in order to inform the proposed disease implications for the loci we uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice J Sommer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jude Okonkwo
- Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Monteiro
- Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-Abèle C Bind
- Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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16
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Doshi B, Athans SR, Woloszynska A. Biological differences underlying sex and gender disparities in bladder cancer: current synopsis and future directions. Oncogenesis 2023; 12:44. [PMID: 37666817 PMCID: PMC10477245 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-023-00489-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex and gender disparities in bladder cancer have long been a subject of interest to the cancer research community, wherein men have a 4 times higher incidence rate than women, and female patients often present with higher-grade disease and experience worse outcomes. Despite the known differences in disease incidence and clinical outcomes between male and female bladder cancer patients, clinical management remains the same. In this review, we critically analyze studies that report on the biological differences between men and women and evaluate how these differences contribute to sex and gender disparities in bladder cancer. Distinct characteristics of the male and female immune systems, differences in circulating hormone levels and hormone receptor expression, and different genetic and epigenetic alterations are major biological factors that all likely contribute to disparate incidence rates and outcomes for male and female bladder cancer patients. Future preclinical and clinical studies in this area should employ experimental approaches that account for and consider sex and gender disparities in bladder cancer, thereby facilitating the development of precision medicine for the effective treatment of bladder cancer in all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavisha Doshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Sarah R Athans
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Anna Woloszynska
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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17
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Vasileva D, Greenwood CMT, Daley D. A Review of the Epigenetic Clock: Emerging Biomarkers for Asthma and Allergic Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1724. [PMID: 37761864 PMCID: PMC10531327 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) is a dynamic, age-dependent epigenetic modification that can be used to study interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Environmental exposures during critical periods of growth and development may alter DNAm patterns, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases such as asthma and allergies. One method to study the role of DNAm is the epigenetic clock-an algorithm that uses DNAm levels at select age-informative Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) dinucleotides to predict epigenetic age (EA). The difference between EA and calendar age (CA) is termed epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and reveals information about the biological capacity of an individual. Associations between EAA and disease susceptibility have been demonstrated for a variety of age-related conditions and, more recently, phenotypes such as asthma and allergic diseases, which often begin in childhood and progress throughout the lifespan. In this review, we explore different epigenetic clocks and how they have been applied, particularly as related to childhood asthma. We delve into how in utero and early life exposures (e.g., smoking, air pollution, maternal BMI) result in methylation changes. Furthermore, we explore the potential for EAA to be used as a biomarker for asthma and allergic diseases and identify areas for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denitsa Vasileva
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and Saint Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada;
| | - Celia M. T. Greenwood
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada;
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Denise Daley
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and Saint Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada;
- Department of Medicine, Respiratory Division, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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18
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Santos HP, Enggasser AE, Clark J, Roell K, Zhabotynsky V, Gower WA, Yanni D, Yang NG, Washburn L, Gogcu S, Marsit CJ, Kuban K, O'Shea TM, Fry RC. Sexually dimorphic methylation patterns characterize the placenta and blood from extremely preterm newborns. BMC Biol 2023; 21:173. [PMID: 37608375 PMCID: PMC10464100 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01662-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health outcomes among children born prematurely are known to be sexually dimorphic, with male infants often more affected, yet the mechanism behind this observation is not clear. CpG methylation levels in the placenta and blood also differ by sex and are associated with adverse health outcomes. We contrasted CpG methylation levels in the placenta and neonatal blood (n = 358) from the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn (ELGAN) cohort based on the EPIC array, which assays over 850,000 CpG sites across the epigenome. Sex-specific epigenome-wide association analyses were conducted for the placenta and neonatal blood samples independently, and the results were compared to determine tissue-specific differences between the methylation patterns in males and females. All models were adjusted for cell type heterogeneity. Enrichment pathway analysis was performed to identify the biological functions of genes related to the sexually dimorphic CpG sites. RESULTS Approximately 11,500 CpG sites were differentially methylated in relation to sex. Of these, 5949 were placenta-specific and 5361 were blood-specific, with only 233 CpG sites overlapping in both tissues. For placenta-specific CpG sites, 90% were hypermethylated in males. For blood-specific CpG sites, 95% were hypermethylated in females. In the placenta, keratinocyte differentiation biological pathways were enriched among the differentially methylated genes. No enrichment pathways were observed for blood. CONCLUSIONS Distinct methylation patterns were observed between male and female children born extremely premature, and keratinocyte differentiation pathways were enriched in the placenta. These findings provide new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic health outcomes among extremely premature infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson P Santos
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
| | - Adam E Enggasser
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeliyah Clark
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kyle Roell
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vasyl Zhabotynsky
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William Adam Gower
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Diana Yanni
- Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nou Gao Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Lisa Washburn
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Semsa Gogcu
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Karl Kuban
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Boston. University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T Michael O'Shea
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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19
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Kheirkhah Rahimabad P, Jones AD, Zhang H, Chen S, Jiang Y, Ewart S, Holloway JW, Arshad H, Eslamimehr S, Bruce R, Karmaus W. Polymorphisms in Glutathione S-Transferase ( GST) Genes Modify the Effect of Exposure to Maternal Smoking Metabolites in Pregnancy and Offspring DNA Methylation. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1644. [PMID: 37628696 PMCID: PMC10454475 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal smoking in pregnancy (MSP) affects the offspring's DNA methylation (DNAm). There is a lack of knowledge regarding individual differences in susceptibility to exposure to MSP. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes are involved in protection against harmful oxidants such as those found in cigarette smoke. This study aimed to test whether polymorphisms in GST genes influence the effect of MSP on offspring DNAm. Using data from the Isle of Wight birth cohort, we assessed the association of MSP and offspring DNAm in 493 mother-child dyads (251 male, 242 female) with the effect-modifying role of GST gene polymorphism (at rs506008, rs574344, rs12736389, rs3768490, rs1537234, and rs1695). MSP was assessed by levels of nicotine and its downstream metabolites (cotinine, norcotinine, and hydroxycotinine) in maternal sera. In males, associations of hydroxycotinine with DNAm at cg18473733, cg25949550, cg11647108, and cg01952185 and norcotinine with DNAm at cg09935388 were modified by GST gene polymorphisms (p-values < 0.05). In females, associations of hydroxycotinine with DNAm at cg12160087 and norcotinine with DNAm at cg18473733 were modified by GST gene polymorphisms (p-values < 0.05). Our study emphasizes the role of genetic polymorphism in GST genes in DNAm's susceptibility to MSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parnian Kheirkhah Rahimabad
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; (P.K.R.); (H.Z.); (Y.J.); (S.E.)
| | - A. Daniel Jones
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; (P.K.R.); (H.Z.); (Y.J.); (S.E.)
| | - Su Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Yu Jiang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; (P.K.R.); (H.Z.); (Y.J.); (S.E.)
| | - Susan Ewart
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - John W. Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK;
| | - Hasan Arshad
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK;
- The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, Newport PO30 5TG, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Hampshire, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Shakiba Eslamimehr
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; (P.K.R.); (H.Z.); (Y.J.); (S.E.)
| | - Robert Bruce
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
| | - Wilfried Karmaus
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; (P.K.R.); (H.Z.); (Y.J.); (S.E.)
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20
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Khramtsova EA, Wilson MA, Martin J, Winham SJ, He KY, Davis LK, Stranger BE. Quality control and analytic best practices for testing genetic models of sex differences in large populations. Cell 2023; 186:2044-2061. [PMID: 37172561 PMCID: PMC10266536 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic sex-based differences exist for many complex traits. In other cases, phenotypes may be similar, but underlying biology may vary. Thus, sex-aware genetic analyses are becoming increasingly important for understanding the mechanisms driving these differences. To this end, we provide a guide outlining the current best practices for testing various models of sex-dependent genetic effects in complex traits and disease conditions, noting that this is an evolving field. Insights from sex-aware analyses will not only teach us about the biology of complex traits but also aid in achieving the goals of precision medicine and health equity for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A Khramtsova
- Population Analytics and Insights, Data Science Analytics & Insights, Janssen R&D, Lower Gwynedd Township, PA, USA.
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Joanna Martin
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Stacey J Winham
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Karen Y He
- Population Analytics and Insights, Data Science Analytics & Insights, Janssen R&D, Lower Gwynedd Township, PA, USA
| | - Lea K Davis
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Barbara E Stranger
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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21
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Jiang MZ, Aguet F, Ardlie K, Chen J, Cornell E, Cruz D, Durda P, Gabriel SB, Gerszten RE, Guo X, Johnson CW, Kasela S, Lange LA, Lappalainen T, Liu Y, Reiner AP, Smith J, Sofer T, Taylor KD, Tracy RP, VanDenBerg DJ, Wilson JG, Rich SS, Rotter JI, Love MI, Raffield LM, Li Y. Canonical correlation analysis for multi-omics: Application to cross-cohort analysis. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010517. [PMID: 37216410 PMCID: PMC10237647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrative approaches that simultaneously model multi-omics data have gained increasing popularity because they provide holistic system biology views of multiple or all components in a biological system of interest. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is a correlation-based integrative method designed to extract latent features shared between multiple assays by finding the linear combinations of features-referred to as canonical variables (CVs)-within each assay that achieve maximal across-assay correlation. Although widely acknowledged as a powerful approach for multi-omics data, CCA has not been systematically applied to multi-omics data in large cohort studies, which has only recently become available. Here, we adapted sparse multiple CCA (SMCCA), a widely-used derivative of CCA, to proteomics and methylomics data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and Jackson Heart Study (JHS). To tackle challenges encountered when applying SMCCA to MESA and JHS, our adaptations include the incorporation of the Gram-Schmidt (GS) algorithm with SMCCA to improve orthogonality among CVs, and the development of Sparse Supervised Multiple CCA (SSMCCA) to allow supervised integration analysis for more than two assays. Effective application of SMCCA to the two real datasets reveals important findings. Applying our SMCCA-GS to MESA and JHS, we identified strong associations between blood cell counts and protein abundance, suggesting that adjustment of blood cell composition should be considered in protein-based association studies. Importantly, CVs obtained from two independent cohorts also demonstrate transferability across the cohorts. For example, proteomic CVs learned from JHS, when transferred to MESA, explain similar amounts of blood cell count phenotypic variance in MESA, explaining 39.0% ~ 50.0% variation in JHS and 38.9% ~ 49.1% in MESA. Similar transferability was observed for other omics-CV-trait pairs. This suggests that biologically meaningful and cohort-agnostic variation is captured by CVs. We anticipate that applying our SMCCA-GS and SSMCCA on various cohorts would help identify cohort-agnostic biologically meaningful relationships between multi-omics data and phenotypic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Zhi Jiang
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - François Aguet
- Illumina Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Illumina, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Kristin Ardlie
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jiawen Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Elaine Cornell
- Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Dan Cruz
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter Durda
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, Colchester, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Stacey B. Gabriel
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert E. Gerszten
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xiuqing Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Torrance, California, United States of America
| | - Craig W. Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington at Seattle, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Silva Kasela
- New York Genome Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Leslie A. Lange
- Department of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Informatics and Personalized Medicine, Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tuuli Lappalainen
- New York Genome Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Yongmei Liu
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology and Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alex P. Reiner
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Josh Smith
- Northwest Genomic Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Tamar Sofer
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Medical School, Medicine-Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kent D. Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Torrance, California, United States of America
| | - Russell P. Tracy
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, Colchester, Vermont, United States of America
| | - David J. VanDenBerg
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - James G. Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stephen S. Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jerome I. Rotter
- Department of Pediatrics, Genomic Outcomes, The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Torrance, California, United States of America
| | - Michael I. Love
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Raffield
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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22
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Kello E, Vieira AR, Rivas-Tumanyan S, Campos-Rivera M, Martinez-Gonzalez KG, Buxó CJ, Morou-Bermúdez E. Pre- and peri-natal hurricane exposure alters DNA methylation patterns in children. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3875. [PMID: 36890172 PMCID: PMC9995354 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30645-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hurricane Maria was the worst recorded natural disaster to affect Puerto Rico. Increased stress in pregnant women during and in the aftermath of the hurricane may have induced epigenetic changes in their infants, which could affect gene expression. Stage of gestation at the time of the event was associated with significant differences in DNA methylation in the infants, especially those who were at around 20-25 weeks of gestation when the hurricane struck. Significant differences in DNA methylation were also associated with maternal mental status assessed after the hurricane, and with property damage. Hurricane Maria could have long lasting consequences to children who were exposed to this disaster during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Kello
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Carmen J Buxó
- University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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23
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Martin EM, Grimm SA, Xu Z, Taylor JA, Wade PA. Beadchip technology to detect DNA methylation in mouse faithfully recapitulates whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Epigenomics 2023; 15:115-129. [PMID: 37020391 PMCID: PMC10131490 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To facilitate wide-scale implementation of Illumina Mouse Methylation BeadChip (MMB) technology, array-based measurement of cytosine methylation was compared with the gold-standard assessment of DNA methylation by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). Methods: DNA methylation across two mouse strains (C57B6 and C3H) and both sexes was assessed using the MMB and compared with previously existing deep-coverage WGBS of mice of the same strain and sex. Results & conclusion: The findings demonstrated that 93.3-99.2% of sites had similar measurements of methylation across technologies and that differentially methylated cytosines and regions identified by each technology overlap and enrich for similar biological functions, suggesting that the MMB faithfully recapitulates the findings of WGBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Martin
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
| | - Sara A Grimm
- Integrative Bioinformatics, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
| | - Zongli Xu
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
| | - Jack A Taylor
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
| | - Paul A Wade
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713, USA
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Urine Molecular Biomarkers for Detection and Follow-Up of Small Renal Masses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416110. [PMID: 36555747 PMCID: PMC9785854 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Active surveillance (AS) is the best strategy for small renal masses (SRMs) management; however, reliable methods for early detection and disease aggressiveness prediction are urgently needed. The aim of the present study was to validate DNA methylation biomarkers for non-invasive SRM detection and prognosis. The levels of methylated genes TFAP2B, TAC1, PCDH8, ZNF677, FLRT2, and FBN2 were evaluated in 165 serial urine samples prospectively collected from 39 patients diagnosed with SRM, specifically renal cell carcinoma (RCC), before and during the AS via quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Voided urine samples from 92 asymptomatic volunteers were used as the control. Significantly higher methylated TFAP2B, TAC1, PCDH8, ZNF677, and FLRT2 levels and/or frequencies were detected in SRM patients' urine samples as compared to the control. The highest diagnostic power (AUC = 0.74) was observed for the four biomarkers panel with 92% sensitivity and 52% specificity. Methylated PCDH8 level positively correlated with SRM size at diagnosis, while TFAP2B had the opposite effect and was related to SRM progression. To sum up, SRMs contribute significantly to the amount of methylated DNA detectable in urine, which might be used for very early RCC detection. Moreover, PCDH8 and TFAP2B methylation have the potential to be prognostic biomarkers for SRMs.
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Engelbrecht HR, Merrill SM, Gladish N, MacIsaac JL, Lin DTS, Ecker S, Chrysohoou CA, Pes GM, Kobor MS, Rehkopf DH. Sex differences in epigenetic age in Mediterranean high longevity regions. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:1007098. [PMID: 36506464 PMCID: PMC9726738 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.1007098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in aging manifest in disparities in disease prevalence, physical health, and lifespan, where women tend to have greater longevity relative to men. However, in the Mediterranean Blue Zones of Sardinia (Italy) and Ikaria (Greece) are regions of centenarian abundance, male-female centenarian ratios are approximately one, diverging from the typical trend and making these useful regions in which to study sex differences of the oldest old. Additionally, these regions can be investigated as examples of healthy aging relative to other populations. DNA methylation (DNAm)-based predictors have been developed to assess various health biomarkers, including biological age, Pace of Aging, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), and telomere length. Epigenetic clocks are biological age predictors whose deviation from chronological age has been indicative of relative health differences between individuals, making these useful tools for interrogating these differences in aging. We assessed sex differences between the Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, Skin and Blood, and Pace of Aging predictors from individuals in two Mediterranean Blue Zones and found that men displayed positive epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) compared to women according to all clocks, with significantly greater rates according to GrimAge (β = 3.55; p = 1.22 × 10-12), Horvath (β = 1.07; p = 0.00378) and the Pace of Aging (β = 0.0344; p = 1.77 × 10-08). Other DNAm-based biomarkers findings indicated that men had lower DNAm-predicted serum IL-6 scores (β = -0.00301, p = 2.84 × 10-12), while women displayed higher DNAm-predicted proportions of regulatory T cells than men from the Blue Zone (p = 0.0150, 95% Confidence Interval [0.00131, 0.0117], Cohen's d = 0.517). All clocks showed better correlations with chronological age in women from the Blue Zones than men, but all clocks showed large mean absolute errors (MAE >30 years) in both sexes, except for PhenoAge (MAE <5 years). Thus, despite their equal survival to older ages in these Mediterranean Blue Zones, men in these regions remain biologically older by most measured DNAm-derived metrics than women, with the exception of the IL-6 score and proportion of regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah-Ruth Engelbrecht
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah M. Merrill
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nicole Gladish
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Julie L. MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David T. S. Lin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Simone Ecker
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Giovanni M. Pes
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,*Correspondence: Michael S. Kobor, ; David H. Rehkopf,
| | - David H. Rehkopf
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Michael S. Kobor, ; David H. Rehkopf,
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Rao S. Sex differences in HIV-1 persistence and the implications for a cure. Front Glob Womens Health 2022; 3:942345. [PMID: 36212905 PMCID: PMC9538461 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.942345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the 38 million people currently living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 (HIV-1), women, especially adolescents and young women, are disproportionally affected by the HIV-1 pandemic. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - related illnesses are the leading cause of death in women of reproductive age worldwide. Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can suppress viral replication, cART is not curative due to the presence of a long-lived viral reservoir that persists despite treatment. Biological sex influences the characteristics of the viral reservoir as well as the immune responses to infection, factors that can have a significant impact on the design and quantification of HIV-1 curative interventions in which women are grossly underrepresented. This mini-review will provide an update on the current understanding of the impact of biological sex on the viral reservoir and will discuss the implications of these differences in the context of the development of potential HIV-1 curative strategies, with a focus on the shock and kill approach to an HIV-1 cure. This mini-review will also highlight the current gaps in the knowledge of sex-based differences in HIV-1 persistence and will speculate on approaches to address them to promote the development of more scalable, effective curative approaches for people living with HIV-1.
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Govender P, Ghai M, Okpeku M. Sex-specific DNA methylation: impact on human health and development. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:1451-1466. [PMID: 35969270 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01935-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Human evolution has shaped gender differences between males and females. Over the years, scientific studies have proposed that epigenetic modifications significantly influence sex-specific differences. The evolution of sex chromosomes with epigenetics as the driving force may have led to one sex being more adaptable than the other when exposed to various factors over time. Identifying and understanding sex-specific differences, particularly in DNA methylation, will help determine how each gender responds to factors, such as disease susceptibility, environmental exposure, brain development and neurodegeneration. From a medicine and health standpoint, sex-specific methylation studies have shed light on human disease severity, progression, and response to therapeutic intervention. Interesting findings in gender incongruent individuals highlight the role of genetic makeup in influencing DNA methylation differences. Sex-specific DNA methylation studies will empower the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry with more knowledge to identify biomarkers, design and develop sex bias drugs leading to better treatment in men and women based on their response to different diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Govender
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa
| | - Meenu Ghai
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa.
| | - Moses Okpeku
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa
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28
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Wang Y, Gorrie-Stone TJ, Grant OA, Andrayas AD, Zhai X, McDonald-Maier KD, Schalkwyk LC. InterpolatedXY: a two-step strategy to normalize DNA methylation microarray data avoiding sex bias. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:3950-3957. [PMID: 35771651 PMCID: PMC9364386 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Data normalization is an essential step to reduce technical variation within and between arrays. Due to the different karyotypes and the effects of X chromosome inactivation, females and males exhibit distinct methylation patterns on sex chromosomes; thus, it poses a significant challenge to normalize sex chromosome data without introducing bias. Currently, existing methods do not provide unbiased solutions to normalize sex chromosome data, usually, they just process autosomal and sex chromosomes indiscriminately. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that ignoring this sex difference will lead to introducing artificial sex bias, especially for thousands of autosomal CpGs. We present a novel two-step strategy (interpolatedXY) to address this issue, which is applicable to all quantile-based normalization methods. By this new strategy, the autosomal CpGs are first normalized independently by conventional methods, such as funnorm or dasen; then the corrected methylation values of sex chromosome-linked CpGs are estimated as the weighted average of their nearest neighbors on autosomes. The proposed two-step strategy can also be applied to other non-quantile-based normalization methods, as well as other array-based data types. Moreover, we propose a useful concept: the sex explained fraction of variance, to quantitatively measure the normalization effect. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The proposed methods are available by calling the function 'adjustedDasen' or 'adjustedFunnorm' in the latest wateRmelon package (https://github.com/schalkwyk/wateRmelon), with methods compatible with all the major workflows, including minfi. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Wang
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | | | - Olivia A Grant
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Alexandria D Andrayas
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | | | - Klaus D McDonald-Maier
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
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