Aim
Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sensitive marker of one-carbon metabolism. Higher Hcy levels have been associated with global DNA hypomethylation. We investigated the association between plasma Hcy and epigenome-wide DNA methylation in leukocytes.
Methods
Methylation was measured using Illumina 450 k arrays in 2035 individuals from six cohorts. Hcy-associated differentially methylated positions and regions were identified using meta-analysis.
Results
Three differentially methylated positions cg21607669 (SLC27A1), cg26382848 (AJUBA) and cg10701000 (KCNMA1) at chromosome 19, 14 and 10, respectively, were significantly associated with Hcy. In addition, we identified 68 Hcy-associated differentially methylated regions, the most significant of which was a 1.8-kb spanning domain (TNXB/ATF6B) at chromosome 6.
Conclusion
We identified novel epigenetic loci associated with Hcy levels, of which specific role needs to be further validated.
Overview publication
Title | Homocysteine levels associate with subtle changes in leukocyte DNA methylation: an epigenome-wide analysis. |
Date | November 1st, 2017 |
Issue name | Epigenomics |
Issue number | v9.11:1403-1422 |
DOI | 10.2217/epi-2017-0038 |
PubMed | 28990796 |
Authors | |
Keywords | 450 k array, DMP, DMR, DNA methylation, association, epigenome-wide analysis, homocysteine, meta-analysis |
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