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Gadd DA, Hillary RF, McCartney DL, Shi L, Stolicyn A, Robertson NA, Walker RM, McGeachan RI, Campbell A, Xueyi S, Barbu MC, Green C, Morris SW, Harris MA, Backhouse EV, Wardlaw JM, Steele JD, Oyarzún DA, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie C, Nevado-Holgado A, Chandra T, Hayward C, Evans KL, Porteous DJ, Cox SR, Whalley HC, McIntosh AM, Marioni RE. Integrated methylome and phenome study of the circulating proteome reveals markers pertinent to brain health. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4670. [PMID: 35945220 PMCID: PMC9363452 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32319-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterising associations between the methylome, proteome and phenome may provide insight into biological pathways governing brain health. Here, we report an integrated DNA methylation and phenotypic study of the circulating proteome in relation to brain health. Methylome-wide association studies of 4058 plasma proteins are performed (N = 774), identifying 2928 CpG-protein associations after adjustment for multiple testing. These are independent of known genetic protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) and common lifestyle effects. Phenome-wide association studies of each protein are then performed in relation to 15 neurological traits (N = 1,065), identifying 405 associations between the levels of 191 proteins and cognitive scores, brain imaging measures or APOE e4 status. We uncover 35 previously unreported DNA methylation signatures for 17 protein markers of brain health. The epigenetic and proteomic markers we identify are pertinent to understanding and stratifying brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni A Gadd
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Robert F Hillary
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Daniel L McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Liu Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Aleks Stolicyn
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Neil A Robertson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Rosie M Walker
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Robert I McGeachan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- The Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Archie Campbell
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Shen Xueyi
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Miruna C Barbu
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Claire Green
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Stewart W Morris
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Mathew A Harris
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Ellen V Backhouse
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - J Douglas Steele
- Division of Imaging Science and Technology, Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Diego A Oyarzún
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH3 3JF, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Graciela Muniz-Terrera
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- Department of Social Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Craig Ritchie
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | | | - Tamir Chandra
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Caroline Hayward
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Kathryn L Evans
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - David J Porteous
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Simon R Cox
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Heather C Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Andrew M McIntosh
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
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