Review
Oncology
Janine Cerutti, Alexandre A. Lussier, Yiwen Zhu, Jiaxuan Liu, Erin C. Dunn
Summary: The evidence suggests that socioeconomic position influences DNA methylation, with variations in patterns depending on the timing, duration, and type of socioeconomic indicator. However, longitudinal studies examining repeated socioeconomic position and DNA methylation measures are generally lacking. Conceptual and methodological diversity in prior studies limits the interpretability of findings related to these three features of socioeconomic position.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Chung-Ho E. Lau, Oliver Robinson
Summary: Cancer is known to be associated with aging, with declines in DNA repair and epigenetic maintenance mechanisms potentially contributing to cancer development. DNA methylation levels, as assessed through epigenetic clocks, are promising markers for predicting cancer risk and mortality. Further research on biological age biomarkers is likely to provide more insights into the connections between aging and cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Anne K. Bozack, Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, Diane R. Gold, Zachary M. Laubach, Wei Perng, Marie-France Hivert, Andres Cardenas
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of epigenetic clocks and identify biological and sociodemographic correlates of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA) at birth and in childhood. The study found that maternal smoking during pregnancy and child sex were associated with EAA and EGAA at multiple timepoints.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Darina Czamara, Elleke Tissink, Johanna Tuhkanen, Jade Martins, Yvonne Awaloff, Amanda J. Drake, Batbayar Khulan, Aarno Palotie, Sibylle M. Winter, Charles B. Nemeroff, W. Edward Craighead, Boadie W. Dunlop, Helen S. Mayberg, Becky Kinkead, Sanjay J. Mathew, Dan Iosifescu, Thomas C. Neylan, Christine M. Heim, Jari Lahti, Johan G. Eriksson, Katri Raikkonen, Kerry J. Ressler, Nadine Provencal, Elisabeth B. Binder
Summary: Studies on the impact of childhood adversity on DNA methylation (DNAm) are inconsistent, with joint effects of genotype and prenatal environment providing the best explanation for variability in DNAm at birth. In adults, interactions between genotype and childhood adversity show the strongest contribution to DNAm variability.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Eric S. Kim, Julia S. Nakamura, Victor J. Strecher, Steven W. Cole
Summary: Psychosocial risk factors are associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, but psychosocial resilience factors may reduce this acceleration. This study found that older adults with a strong sense of purpose in life have reduced epigenetic age acceleration. However, this association is attenuated after adjusting for health-related behaviors.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Chang Liu, Zeyuan Wang, Qin Hui, Jack Goldberg, Nicholas L. Smith, Amit J. Shah, Nancy Murrah, Lucy Shallenberger, Emily Diggers, James Douglas Bremner, Yan Sun, Viola Vaccarino
Summary: This study used a robust co-twin control study design and found an association between depression and DNA methylation age acceleration. The results suggest a potential causal relationship between depression and accelerated aging.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Christy Anne Foster, Malcolm Barker-Kamps, Marlon Goering, Amit Patki, Hemant K. Tiwari, Sylvie Mrug
Summary: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-related disorders. This study focused on the relationship between obesity and DNA methylation (DNAm) in young adulthood, and found that higher BMI and waist circumference were associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, with different effects in males and females.
Article
Oncology
Jianhong Chen, Mark D. D. Long, Sirinapa Sribenja, Sung Jun Ma, Li Yan, Qiang Hu, Song Liu, Thaer Khoury, Chi-Chen Hong, Elisa Bandera, Anurag K. Singh, Elizabeth A. Repasky, Elizabeth G. Bouchard, Michael Higgins, Christine B. Ambrosone, Song Yao
Summary: In this study, the researchers analyzed the tumor DNA methylation data of 694 breast cancer patients and found that household income was associated with tumor DNA methylation, while educational attainment was not. The methylation levels of NNT and GPR37 genes were negatively correlated with household income, and these genes are involved in stress response and immune response. This correlation was consistent in both black and white patients. These findings suggest that socioeconomic status has a significant biological impact on tumor tissues and may be relevant to cancer development and progression.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Rezvan Noroozi, Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Aleksandra Pisarek, Joanna Rudnicka, Magdalena Spolnicka, Wojciech Branicki, Mohammad Taheri, Ewelina Pospiech
Summary: Aging is characterized by physiological decline and increased disease susceptibility, with DNA methylation playing a role in this process. Studies tracking aging through DNA methylation have led to the development of epigenetic age clocks as indicators of lifespan and healthspan, with potential for predicting health and disease risks. Age-reprogramming strategies are being explored as promising methods for resetting the aging process based on epigenetic changes.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Pietro Di Lena, Claudia Sala, Christine Nardini
Summary: There has been a growing interest in researching biomarkers of aging that can predict physiological vulnerability better than chronological age. DNA methylation-based biological age is one of the most promising biomarkers. This article presents a systematic review of these biomarkers and provides a comparison of their performance across different tissues and diseases, which can guide future research.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shashi Bhushan, Amit Kumar Singh, Yogendra Thakur, Ramamurthy Baskar
Summary: In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, parental age has a persistent effect on somatic mutation rates across multiple generations. The rates of base substitution, intrachromosomal recombination, frameshift mutation, and transposition were examined in this study using a detector gene. The results showed that the parental age can affect the mutation rates differently depending on the generation, and that the number of generations passed through self-fertilization at a specific age is an important factor in determining somatic mutation rates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raul F. Perez, Juan Luis Fernandez-Morera, Judit Romano-Garcia, Edelmiro Menendez-Torre, Elias Delgado-Alvarez, Mario F. Fraga, Agustin F. Fernandez
Summary: Through a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation patterns in T1D patients, it was found that over 100 genes showed DNA methylation differences compared to healthy controls, and only T1D patients with poor glycemic control displayed epigenetic age acceleration.
Article
Neurosciences
Pierre Bady, Christine Marosi, Michael Weller, Bjorn H. Gronberg, Henrik Schultz, Martin J. B. Taphoorn, Johanna M. M. Gijtenbeek, Martin J. van den Bent, Andreas von Deimling, Roger Stupp, Annika Malmstroem, Monika E. Hegi
Summary: This study aimed to identify age-related molecular differences in elderly glioblastoma patients and guide treatment decisions. The researchers found that DNA methylation features were associated with tumor classification, but not age. Furthermore, there was no molecular evidence to support different treatments for elderly patients.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Veronica Euclydes, Catarina Gomes, Gisele Gouveia, Vinicius Daguano Gastaldi, Arthur Sant'Anna Feltrin, Caroline Camilo, Rossana Pulcineli Vieira, Aloisio Felipe-Silva, Sandra Grisi, Gunther Fink, Alexandra Brentani, Helena Brentani
Summary: This study investigated the associations between prenatal exposures and gestational age acceleration (GAA) in newborns using epigenetic risk scores. The results showed that exposure to low-grade inflammatory was a predictor of GAA for both sexes, while glucocorticoid epigenetic score seemed to play a more important role in GAA for girls.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvio Zaina, Manel Esteller, Isabel Goncalves, Gertrud Lund
Summary: Accelerated epigenetic ageing has been detected in peripheral blood cells of atherosclerotic patients, but evidence in the vascular wall is lacking. This study investigates the trends of epigenetic ageing in the atheroma and finds dynamic DNA methylation age mosaicism that is related to atherosclerosis, changes from acceleration to deceleration with chronological ageing, and is consistent in both human aorta and carotid atheroma.
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Eilis Hannon, Jonathan Davies, Barry Chioza, Stefania Policicchio, Joe Burrage, Gina Commin, Aaron R. Jeffries, Leo Schalkwyk, Emma Dempster, Jonathan Mill
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Rosemary Bamford, Aaron R. Jeffries, Emma Walker, Szi Kay Leung, Gina Commin, Jonathan P. Davies, Emma Dempster, Eilis Hannon, Jonathan Mill
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gemma Shireby, Emma L. Dempster, Stefania Policicchio, Rebecca G. Smith, Ehsan Pishva, Barry Chioza, Jonathan P. Davies, Joe Burrage, Katie Lunnon, Dorothea Seiler Vellame, Seth Love, Alan Thomas, Keeley Brookes, Kevin Morgan, Paul Francis, Eilis Hannon, Jonathan Mill
Summary: This study identified differences in cortical DNA methylation associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology and found that most of these differences occurred in non-neuronal cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lasse Pihlstrom, Gemma Shireby, Hanneke Geut, Sandra Pilar Henriksen, Annemieke J. M. Rozemuller, Jon-Anders Tunold, Eilis Hannon, Paul Francis, Alan J. Thomas, Seth Love, Jonathan Mill, Wilma D. J. van de Berg, Mathias Toft
Summary: In this study, the authors investigated the role of DNA methylation changes in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). They identified differentially methylated genomic loci associated with Lewy pathology, providing insights into novel disease pathways and potential molecular studies of Lewy body pathology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Adrian Sellers, Sharon Hudson, Joanna Ledger, Charlotte Moorehouse, Charlotte Young, Ian Groeber, Bridget Knight, Jonathan Mill, Jon Allard, Rohit Shankar
Summary: Genetic variations in people with intellectual disability (PwID) are under-diagnosed. This pilot genetic study aimed to address this issue, but faced challenges in obtaining consent and recruitment. However, the study found that 75% of PwID had biochemical abnormalities requiring further medical attention, highlighting the clinical benefits of engagement.
JOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dorothea Seiler Vellame, Gemma Shireby, Ailsa MacCalman, Emma L. Dempster, Joe Burrage, Tyler Gorrie-Stone, Leonard S. Schalkwyk, Jonathan Mill, Eilis Hannon
Summary: Most epigenetic epidemiology studies have used bulk tissues for genome-wide profiling, but these can be confounded by variation in cellular composition. In this study, researchers developed a metric called CETYGO score to assess the accuracy of derived cellular heterogeneity variables. They found that the CETYGO score can distinguish inaccurate deconvolutions when applied to whole blood profiles. The study also revealed that estimating accurate cellular composition is influenced by technical and biological factors, such as gender, age, and smoking status.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Megha Murthy, Gemma Shireby, Yasuo Miki, Emmanuelle Vire, Tammaryn Lashley, Thomas T. Warner, Jonathan Mill, Conceicao Bettencourt
Summary: This study investigated the epigenetic aging in white matter for the first time, and found that oligodendrocyte proportions positively influence epigenetic age acceleration.
NEUROPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Matthew Devall, Darren M. Soanes, Adam R. Smith, Emma L. Dempster, Rebecca G. Smith, Joe Burrage, Artemis Iatrou, Eilis Hannon, Claire Troakes, Karen Moore, Paul O'Neill, Safa Al-Sarraj, Leonard Schalkwyk, Jonathan Mill, Michael Weedon, Katie Lunnon
Summary: This study presents a novel approach to investigate the patterns of mitochondrial DNA methylation in human brain tissue. The results show relatively low but conserved patterns of mitochondrial DNA methylation, with peaks observed in the D-LOOP and several genes in a non-CpG context. Differential methylation patterns associated with age, sex, and brain region were also identified. This study provides detailed annotation of DNA methylation in the mitochondrial genome and highlights the potential role of mitochondrial epigenetic mechanisms in disorders characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Kirsty Bowman, Tim Cadman, Ana Goncalves Soares, Oliver Robinson, Amanda Hughes, Jon Heron, Alexa Blair Segal, Maria Carmen Huerta, Laura D. Howe
Summary: This study examines the association between BMI and educational attainment and finds that in females, externalizing behaviors are a major mediator of the negative impact of BMI on educational achievement, while in males there is no significant mediation effect. Therefore, supporting behavioral problems may help improve the academic performance of overweight children.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Simeng Lin, Eilis Hannon, Mark Reppell, Jeffrey F. Waring, Nizar Smaoui, Valerie Pivorunas, Heath Guay, Neil Chanchlani, Claire Bewshea, Benjamin Y. H. Bai, Nicholas A. Kennedy, James R. Goodhand, Jonathan Mill, Tariq Ahmad, PANTS Consortium
Summary: The study identified epigenetic biomarkers in whole blood at baseline that can predict anti-TNF drug concentrations at week 14, which may help identify patients who could benefit from dose optimization at the beginning of anti-TNF therapy.
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amanda M. Hughes, Daniel McArthur
Summary: Obesity-related stigma is a public health issue and understanding the factors that drive individuals' stigmatizing views towards obesity is crucial. This study explores predictors of weight stigmatizing attitudes, including demographics, socioeconomic position, beliefs, and core political values. The findings show differences in weight-stigmatizing attitudes among different demographic groups and their association with wider social attitudes and beliefs. These findings have important implications for reducing obesity stigma and other forms of stigma.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jessica O'Loughlin, Francesco Casanova, Amanda Hughes, Zammy Fairhurst-Hunter, Liming Li, Zhengming Chen, Jack Bowden, Ed Watkins, Rachel M. Freathy, Laura D. Howe, Robin G. Walters, Jessica Tyrrell
Summary: This study investigated the association between BMI and well-being in individuals of East Asian and European ancestry. The results showed that there were differences in the relationship between BMI and well-being in individuals of different ancestries, highlighting the importance of considering population-specific factors.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta F. Nabais, Danni A. Gadd, Eilis Hannon, Jonathan Mill, Allan F. McRae, Naomi R. Wray
Summary: Microarray technology is employed to analyze genome-wide DNA methylation and its association with complex traits or diseases. Results can be used to predict outcomes using methylation profile scores (MPS) in independent datasets. However, there are key differences between MPS and polygenic (risk) scores (PGS), especially in terms of assumptions made in genetic modeling that may not apply to epigenetic data.
