| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Ahsan, Muhammad, et al.
(författare)
-
The relative contribution of DNA methylation and genetic variants on protein biomarkers for human diseases.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: PLOS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 13:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Associations between epigenetic alterations and disease status have been identified for many diseases. However, there is no strong evidence that epigenetic alterations are directly causal for disease pathogenesis. In this study, we combined SNP and DNA methylation data with measurements of protein biomarkers for cancer, inflammation or cardiovascular disease, to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and epigenetic variation on biomarker levels. A total of 121 protein biomarkers were measured and analyzed in relation to DNA methylation at 470,000 genomic positions and to over 10 million SNPs. We performed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses, and integrated biomarker, DNA methylation and SNP data using between 698 and 1033 samples depending on data availability for the different analyses. We identified 124 and 45 loci (Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.05) with effect sizes up to 0.22 standard units' change per 1% change in DNA methylation levels and up to four standard units' change per copy of the effective allele in the EWAS and GWAS respectively. Most GWAS loci were cis-regulatory whereas most EWAS loci were located in trans. Eleven EWAS loci were associated with multiple biomarkers, including one in NLRC5 associated with CXCL11, CXCL9, IL-12, and IL-18 levels. All EWAS signals that overlapped with a GWAS locus were driven by underlying genetic variants and three EWAS signals were confounded by smoking. While some cis-regulatory SNPs for biomarkers appeared to have an effect also on DNA methylation levels, cis-regulatory SNPs for DNA methylation were not observed to affect biomarker levels. We present associations between protein biomarker and DNA methylation levels at numerous loci in the genome. The associations are likely to reflect the underlying pattern of genetic variants, specific environmental exposures, or represent secondary effects to the pathogenesis of disease.
|
|
| 4. |
- Chacko, L. Johnson, et al.
(författare)
-
Role of BDNF and neurotrophic receptors in human inner ear development
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Cell and Tissue Research. - : SPRINGER. - 0302-766X .- 1432-0878. ; 370:3, s. 347-363
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The expression patterns of the neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, and the neurotrophic receptors-p75NTR and Trk receptors-in the developing human fetal inner ear between the gestational weeks (GW) 9 to 12 are examined via in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. BDNF mRNA expression was highest in the cochlea at GW 9 but declined in the course of development. In contrast to embryonic murine specimens, a decline in BDNF expression from the apical to the basal turn of the cochlea could not be observed. p75NTR immunostaining was most prominent in the nerve fibers that penetrate into the sensory epithelia of the cochlea, the urticule and the saccule as gestational age progresses. TrkB and TrkC expression intensified towards GW 12, at which point the BDNF mRNA localization was at its lowest. TrkA expression was limited to fiber subpopulations of the facial nerve at GW 10. In the adult human inner ear, we observed BDNF mRNA expression in the apical poles of the cochlear hair cells and supporting cells, while in the adult human utricle, the expression was localized in the vestibular hair cells. We demonstrate the highly specific staining patterns of BDNF mRNA and its putative receptors over a developmental period in which multiple hearing disorders are manifested. Our findings suggest that BDNF and neurotrophin receptors are important players during early human inner ear development. In particular, they seem to be important for the survival of the afferent sensory neurons.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Ek, Weronica E., et al.
(författare)
-
Epigenome-wide DNA methylation study of IgE concentration in relation to self-reported allergies
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Epigenomics. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1750-1911 .- 1750-192X. ; 9:4, s. 407-418
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: Epigenetic mechanisms are critical for normal immune development and epigenetic alterations might therefore be possible contributors to immune diseases. To investigate if DNA methylation in whole blood is associated with total and allergen-specific IgE levels.METHODS: We performed an epigenome-wide association study to investigate the association between DNA methylation and IgE level, allergen-specific IgE and self-reported immune diseases and allergies in 728 individuals.RESULTS: We identified and replicated 15 CpG sites associated with IgE, mapping to biologically relevant genes, including ACOT7, ILR5A, KCNH2, PRG2 and EPX. A total of 331 loci were associated with allergen-specific IgE, but none of these CpG sites were associated with self-reported allergies and immune diseases.CONCLUSION: This study shows that IgE levels are associated with DNA methylation levels at numerous CpG sites, which might provide new leads for investigating the links between IgE and allergic inflammation.
|
|
| 8. |
- Ek, Weronica E, et al.
(författare)
-
Genetic variants influencing phenotypic variance heterogeneity
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 27:5, s. 799-810
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most genetic studies identify genetic variants associated with disease risk or with the mean value of a quantitative trait. More rarely, genetic variants associated with variance heterogeneity are considered. In this study, we have identified such variance single-nucleotide polymorphisms (vSNPs) and examined if these represent biological gene x gene or gene x environment interactions or statistical artifacts caused by multiple linked genetic variants influencing the same phenotype. We have performed a genome-wide study, to identify vSNPs associated with variance heterogeneity in DNA methylation levels. Genotype data from over 10 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and DNA methylation levels at over 430 000 CpG sites, were analyzed in 729 individuals. We identified vSNPs for 7195 CpG sites (P < 9.4 x 10(-11)). This is a relatively low number compared to 52 335 CpG sites for which SNPs were associated with mean DNA methylation levels. We further showed that variance heterogeneity between genotypes mainly represents additional, often rare, SNPs in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the respective vSNP and for some vSNPs, multiple low frequency variants co-segregating with one of the vSNP alleles. Therefore, our results suggest that variance heterogeneity of DNA methylation mainly represents phenotypic effects by multiple SNPs, rather than biological interactions. Such effects may also be important for interpreting variance heterogeneity of more complex clinical phenotypes.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ek, Weronica E., et al.
(författare)
-
Tea and coffee consumption in relation to DNA methylation in four European cohorts
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press. - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 26:16, s. 3221-3231
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lifestyle factors, such as food choices and exposure to chemicals, can alter DNA methylation and lead to changes in gene activity. Two such exposures with pharmacologically active components are coffee and tea consumption. Both coffee and tea has been suggested to play an important role in modulating disease-risk in humans by suppressing tumour progression, decreasing inflammation and influencing estrogen metabolism. These mechanisms may be mediated by changes in DNA methylation.To investigate if DNA methylation in blood is associated with coffee and tea consumption we performed a genome-wide DNA methylation study for coffee and tea consumption in four European cohorts (N = 3,096). DNA methylation was measured from whole blood at 421,695 CpG sites distributed throughout the genome and analysed in men and women both separately and together in each cohort. Meta-analyses of the results and additional regional-level analyses were performed.After adjusting for multiple testing, the meta-analysis revealed that two individual CpG-sites, mapping to DNAJC16 and TTC17, were differentially methylated in relation to tea consumption in women. No individual sites were associated in men or in the sex-combined analysis for tea or coffee. The regional analysis revealed that 28 regions were differentially methylated in relation to tea consumption in women. These regions contained genes known to interact with estradiol metabolism and cancer. No significant regions were found in the sex-combined and male-only analysis for either tea or coffee consumption.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
