International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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18 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Education and Lifestyle Factors Are Associated with DNA Methylation Clocks in Older African Americans

by Wei Zhao, Farah Ammous, Scott Ratliff, Jiaxuan Liu, Miao Yu, Thomas H. Mosley, Sharon L. R. Kardia and Jennifer A. Smith

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(17), 3141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173141 - 28 Aug 2019

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 4547

Abstract

DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks are important biomarkers of cellular aging and are associated with a variety of age-related chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. Examining the relationship between education and lifestyle risk factors for age-related diseases and multiple DNAm clocks can increase the understanding [...] Read more.

DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks are important biomarkers of cellular aging and are associated with a variety of age-related chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. Examining the relationship between education and lifestyle risk factors for age-related diseases and multiple DNAm clocks can increase the understanding of how risk factors contribute to aging at the cellular level. This study explored the association between education or lifestyle risk factors for age-related diseases and the acceleration of four DNAm clocks, including intrinsic (IEAA) and extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA), PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAA), and GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA) in the African American participants of the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy. We performed both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. In cross-sectional analyses, gender, education, BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption were all independently associated with GrimAA, whereas only some of them were associated with other clocks. The effect of smoking and education on GrimAA varied by gender. Longitudinal analyses suggest that age and BMI continued to increase GrimAA, and that age and current smoking continued to increase PhenoAA after controlling DNAm clocks at baseline. In conclusion, education and common lifestyle risk factors were associated with multiple DNAm clocks. However, the association with each risk factor varied by clock, which suggests that different clocks may capture adverse effects from different environmental stimuli. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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14 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exploring Epigenetic Age in Response to Intensive Relaxing Training: A Pilot Study to Slow Down Biological Age

by Sofia Pavanello, Manuela Campisi, Francesco Tona, Carlo Dal Lin and Sabino Iliceto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(17), 3074; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173074 - 23 Aug 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5974

Abstract

DNA methylation (DNAm) is an emerging estimator of biological aging, i.e., the often-defined “epigenetic clock”, with a unique accuracy for chronological age estimation (DNAmAge). In this pilot longitudinal study, we examine the hypothesis that intensive relaxing training of 60 days in patients after [...] Read more.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is an emerging estimator of biological aging, i.e., the often-defined “epigenetic clock”, with a unique accuracy for chronological age estimation (DNAmAge). In this pilot longitudinal study, we examine the hypothesis that intensive relaxing training of 60 days in patients after myocardial infarction and in healthy subjects may influence leucocyte DNAmAge by turning back the epigenetic clock. Moreover, we compare DNAmAge with another mechanism of biological age, leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and telomerase. DNAmAge is reduced after training in healthy subjects (p = 0.053), but not in patients. LTL is preserved after intervention in healthy subjects, while it continues to decrease in patients (p = 0.051). The conventional negative correlation between LTL and chronological age becomes positive after training in both patients (p < 0.01) and healthy subjects (p < 0.05). In our subjects, DNAmAge is not associated with LTL. Our findings would suggest that intensive relaxing practices influence different aging molecular mechanisms, i.e., DNAmAge and LTL, with a rejuvenating effect. Our study reveals that DNAmAge may represent an accurate tool to measure the effectiveness of lifestyle-based interventions in the prevention of age-related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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11 pages, 311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Physical Exercise on Endothelial Function and DNA Methylation

by Luca Ferrari, Marco Vicenzi, Letizia Tarantini, Francesco Barretta, Silvia Sironi, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Marco Guazzi and Valentina Bollati

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142530 - 16 Jul 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5643

Abstract

Essential hypertension is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Epidemiological studies have shown that physical training can reduce blood pressure (BP), both in hypertensive and healthy individuals. Increasing evidence is emerging that DNA methylation is involved in alteration of the [...] Read more.

Essential hypertension is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Epidemiological studies have shown that physical training can reduce blood pressure (BP), both in hypertensive and healthy individuals. Increasing evidence is emerging that DNA methylation is involved in alteration of the phenotype and of vascular function in response to environmental stimuli. We evaluated repetitive element and gene-specific DNA methylation in peripheral blood leukocytes of 68 volunteers, taken before (T0) and after (T1) a three-month intervention protocol of continuative aerobic physical exercise. DNA methylation was assessed by bisulfite-PCR and pyrosequencing. Comparing T0 and T1 measurements, we found an increase in oxygen consumption at peak of exercise (VO_2peak) and a decrease in diastolic BP at rest. Exercise increased the levels of ALU and Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 (LINE-1) repetitive elements methylation, and of Endothelin-1 (EDN1), Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS2), and Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF) gene-specific methylation. VO_2peak was positively associated with methylation of ALU, EDN1, NOS2, and TNF; systolic BP at rest was inversely associated with LINE-1, EDN1, and NOS2 methylation; diastolic BP was inversely associated with EDN1 and NOS2 methylation. Our findings suggest a possible role of DNA methylation for lowering systemic BP induced by the continuative aerobic physical training program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

11 pages, 634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Night Shift Work, DNA Methylation and Telomere Length: An Investigation on Hospital Female Nurses

by Michele Carugno, Cristina Maggioni, Eleonora Crespi, Matteo Bonzini, Simone Cuocina, Laura Dioni, Letizia Tarantini, Dario Consonni, Luca Ferrari and Angela Cecilia Pesatori

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(13), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132292 - 28 Jun 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3962

Abstract

Increased breast cancer risk has been reported in some night shift (NS) workers but underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. We assessed the association between NS work and DNA methylation of tumor suppressor (TP53, CDKN2A, BRCA1, BRCA2) and [...] Read more.

Increased breast cancer risk has been reported in some night shift (NS) workers but underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. We assessed the association between NS work and DNA methylation of tumor suppressor (TP53, CDKN2A, BRCA1, BRCA2) and estrogen receptor (ESR1, ESR2) genes, methylation of repetitive elements (LINE-1, Alu), and telomere length (TL). Forty six female nurses employed in NS for at least two years were matched by age (30–45 years) and length of service (≥1 year) with 51 female colleagues not working in NS. Each subject underwent a semi-structured interview and gave a blood sample. We applied linear regression and spline models adjusted for age, BMI, smoking habit, oral contraceptive use, parity and marital status/age at marriage. Currently working in NS was associated with ESR1 hypomethylation (β: −1.85 (95%CI: −3.03; −0.67), p = 0.003). In current and former NS workers we observed TP53 (−0.93 (−1.73; −0.12), p = 0.03) and BRCA1 (−1.14 (−1.71; −0.58), p <0.001) hypomethylation. We found an increase between TL and number of years in NS in subjects employed in NS <12 years (0.06 (0.03; 0.09), p <0.001), while a decrease if employed in NS ≥12 years (−0.07 −0.10; −0.04), p <0.001). Our findings show NS-associated markers potentially involved in cellular aging, genomic instability, and cancer development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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15 pages, 1456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DNA Methylation in Inflammatory Pathways Modifies the Association between BMI and Adult-Onset Non-Atopic Asthma

by Ayoung Jeong, Medea Imboden, Akram Ghantous, Alexei Novoloaca, Anne-Elie Carsin, Manolis Kogevinas, Christian Schindler, Gianfranco Lovison, Zdenko Herceg, Cyrille Cuenin, Roel Vermeulen, Deborah Jarvis, André F. S. Amaral, Florian Kronenberg, Paolo Vineis and Nicole Probst-Hensch

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(4), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16040600 - 19 Feb 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4140

Abstract

A high body mass (BMI) index has repeatedly been associated with non-atopic asthma, but the biological mechanism linking obesity to asthma is still poorly understood. We aimed to test the hypothesis that inflammation and/or innate immunity plays a role in the obesity-asthma link. [...] Read more.

A high body mass (BMI) index has repeatedly been associated with non-atopic asthma, but the biological mechanism linking obesity to asthma is still poorly understood. We aimed to test the hypothesis that inflammation and/or innate immunity plays a role in the obesity-asthma link. DNA methylome was measured in blood samples of 61 non-atopic participants with asthma and 146 non-atopic participants without asthma (non-smokers for at least 10 years) taking part in the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) study. Modification by DNA methylation of the association of BMI or BMI change over 10 years with adult-onset asthma was examined at each CpG site and differentially methylated region. Pathway enrichment tests were conducted for genes in a priori curated inflammatory pathways and the NLRP3-IL1B-IL17 axis. The latter was chosen on the basis of previous work in mice. Inflammatory pathways including glucocorticoid/PPAR signaling (p = 0.0023), MAPK signaling (p = 0.013), NF-κB signaling (p = 0.031), and PI3K/AKT signaling (p = 0.031) were enriched for the effect modification of BMI, while NLRP3-IL1B-IL17 axis was enriched for the effect modification of BMI change over 10 years (p = 0.046). DNA methylation measured in peripheral blood is consistent with inflammation as a link between BMI and adult-onset asthma and with the NLRP3-IL1B-IL17 axis as a link between BMI change over 10 years and adult-onset asthma in non-atopic participants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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15 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Karen Huen, Daneida Lizarraga, Katherine Kogut, Brenda Eskenazi and Nina Holland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(4), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16040524 - 13 Feb 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3159

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as an important pathway through which environmental exposures can affect health through the regulation of gene expression without changes in DNA sequence: microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that target protein-coding mRNAs, leading to post-transcriptional repression. They are involved [...] Read more.

Epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as an important pathway through which environmental exposures can affect health through the regulation of gene expression without changes in DNA sequence: microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that target protein-coding mRNAs, leading to post-transcriptional repression. They are involved in important physiologic processes, but little is known about how miRNA expression may change with age in children. We used an nCounter miRNA assay to assess the expression of 43 miRNAs in buffy coat samples collected from newborns (n = 121) and 7-year-old (n = 142) children. We identified 36 miRNAs that were differentially expressed between newborns and 7-year-olds after controlling for blood cell composition. Using pathway analysis, we found that differentially expressed miRNAs targeted genes enriched for processes related to post-translational modifications, metabolism, and immune response. Our study found that unlike adults, where miRNA expression levels in peripheral blood may decrease with age, expression levels of most miRNAs increased from birth to mid-childhood. This may be reflective of the role miRNAs may play in the highly coordinated mechanisms regulating genes involved in children’s development. Furthermore, it will be important to adjust for both age and blood cell composition in future pediatric studies of miRNA expression in blood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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Review

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 1365 KiB

Open AccessReview

DNA Hydroxymethylation at the Interface of the Environment and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

by Stella Tommasi and Ahmad Besaratinia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152791 - 05 Aug 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5309

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent forms of chronic liver disorders among adults, children, and adolescents, and a growing epidemic, worldwide. Notwithstanding the known susceptibility factors for NAFLD, i.e., obesity and metabolic syndrome, the exact cause(s) of this [...] Read more.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent forms of chronic liver disorders among adults, children, and adolescents, and a growing epidemic, worldwide. Notwithstanding the known susceptibility factors for NAFLD, i.e., obesity and metabolic syndrome, the exact cause(s) of this disease and the underlying mechanisms of its initiation and progression are not fully elucidated. NAFLD is a multi-faceted disease with metabolic, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental determinants. Accumulating evidence shows that exposure to environmental toxicants contributes to the development of NAFLD by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and generating reactive oxygen species in the liver. Imbalances in the redox state of the cells are known to cause alterations in the patterns of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), the oxidative product of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), thereby influencing gene regulation. The 5hmC-mediated deregulation of genes involved in hepatic metabolism is an emerging area of research in NAFLD. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the interactive role of xenobiotic exposure and DNA hydroxymethylation in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease. Increasing the mechanistic knowledge of NAFLD initiation and progression is crucial for the development of new and effective strategies for prevention and treatment of this disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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13 pages, 552 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Epigenetic Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on Human Health

by Robert G. Poston and Ramendra N. Saha

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2703; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152703 - 29 Jul 2019

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5225

Abstract

Disruption of epigenetic regulation by environmental toxins is an emerging area of focus for understanding the latter’s impact on human health. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), one such group of toxins, are an environmentally pervasive class of brominated flame retardants that have been extensively [...] Read more.

Disruption of epigenetic regulation by environmental toxins is an emerging area of focus for understanding the latter’s impact on human health. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), one such group of toxins, are an environmentally pervasive class of brominated flame retardants that have been extensively used as coatings on a wide range of consumer products. Their environmental stability, propensity for bioaccumulation, and known links to adverse health effects have evoked extensive research to characterize underlying biological mechanisms of toxicity. Of particular concern is the growing body of evidence correlating human exposure levels to behavioral deficits related to neurodevelopmental disorders. The developing nervous system is particularly sensitive to influence by environmental signals, including dysregulation by toxins. Several major modes of actions have been identified, but a clear understanding of how observed effects relate to negative impacts on human health has not been established. Here, we review the current body of evidence for PBDE-induced epigenetic disruptions, including DNA methylation, chromatin dynamics, and non-coding RNA expression while discussing the potential relationship between PBDEs and neurodevelopmental disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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9 pages, 454 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Minireview: The Epigenetic Modulation of KISS1 in Reproduction and Cancer

by Maria Letizia Motti and Rosaria Meccariello

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142607 - 22 Jul 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3124

Abstract

Epigenetics describes how both lifestyle and environment may affect human health through the modulation of genome functions and without any change to the DNA nucleotide sequence. The discovery of several epigenetic mechanisms and the possibility to deliver epigenetic marks in cells, gametes, and [...] Read more.

Epigenetics describes how both lifestyle and environment may affect human health through the modulation of genome functions and without any change to the DNA nucleotide sequence. The discovery of several epigenetic mechanisms and the possibility to deliver epigenetic marks in cells, gametes, and biological fluids has opened up new perspectives in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. In this respect, the depth of knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms is fundamental to preserving health status and to developing targeted interventions. In this minireview, we summarize the epigenetic modulation of the KISS1 gene in order to provide an example of epigenetic regulation in health and disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Influence on Human Health: The Contribution of Epigenetic Mechanisms)

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