DNA methylation and childhood asthma in the inner city
Recommended Citation
Yang IV, Pedersen BS, Liu A, O'Connor GT, Teach SJ, Kattan M, Misiak RT, Gruchalla R, Steinbach SF, Szefler SJ, Gill MA, Calatroni A, David G, Hennessy CE, Davidson EJ, Zhang W, Gergen P, Togias A, Busse WW, and Schwartz DA. DNA methylation and childhood asthma in the inner city. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 136(1):69-80.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2015
Publication Title
The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Epigenetic marks are heritable, influenced by the environment, direct the maturation of T lymphocytes, and in mice enhance the development of allergic airway disease. Thus it is important to define epigenetic alterations in asthmatic populations.
OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that epigenetic alterations in circulating PBMCs are associated with allergic asthma.
METHODS: We compared DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in inner-city children with persistent atopic asthma versus healthy control subjects by using DNA and RNA from PBMCs. Results were validated in an independent population of asthmatic patients.
RESULTS: Comparing asthmatic patients (n = 97) with control subjects (n = 97), we identified 81 regions that were differentially methylated. Several immune genes were hypomethylated in asthma, including IL13, RUNX3, and specific genes relevant to T lymphocytes (TIGIT). Among asthmatic patients, 11 differentially methylated regions were associated with higher serum IgE concentrations, and 16 were associated with percent predicted FEV1. Hypomethylated and hypermethylated regions were associated with increased and decreased gene expression, respectively (P < 6 × 10(-12) for asthma and P < .01 for IgE). We further explored the relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression using an integrative analysis and identified additional candidates relevant to asthma (IL4 and ST2). Methylation marks involved in T-cell maturation (RUNX3), TH2 immunity (IL4), and oxidative stress (catalase) were validated in an independent asthmatic cohort of children living in the inner city.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that DNA methylation marks in specific gene loci are associated with asthma and suggest that epigenetic changes might play a role in establishing the immune phenotype associated with asthma.
Medical Subject Headings
Asthma; Child; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; DNA; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-4; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; RNA; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Immunologic; Respiratory Function Tests; Urban Population
PubMed ID
25769910
Volume
136
Issue
1
First Page
69
Last Page
80
