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Swart G, Meeks K, Chilunga F, Venema A, Agyemang C, van der Linden E, Henneman P. Associations between epigenome-wide DNA methylation and height-related traits among Sub-Saharan Africans: the RODAM study. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2023; 14:658-669. [PMID: 38044700 DOI: 10.1017/s204017442300034x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Human height and related traits are highly complex, and extensively research has shown that these traits are determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Such factors may partially affect these traits through epigenetic programing. Epigenetic programing is dynamic and plays an important role in controlling gene expression and cell differentiation during (early) development. DNA methylation (DNAm) is the most commonly studied epigenetic feature. In this study we conducted an epigenome-wide DNAm association analysis on height-related traits in a Sub-Saharan African population, in order to detect DNAm biomarkers across four height-related traits. DNAm profiles were acquired in whole blood samples of 704 Ghanaians, sourced from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants study, using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Linear models were fitted to detect differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and regions (DMRs) associated with height, leg-to-height ratio (LHR), leg length, and sitting height. No epigenome-wide significant DMPs were recorded. However we did observe among our top DMPs five informative probes associated with the height-related traits: cg26905768 (leg length), cg13268132 (leg length), cg19776793 (height), cg23072383 (LHR), and cg24625894 (sitting height). All five DMPs are annotated to genes whose functions were linked to bone cell regulation and development. DMR analysis identified overlapping DMRs within the gene body of HLA-DPB1 gene, and the HOXA gene cluster. In this first epigenome-wide association studies of these traits, our findings suggest DNAm associations with height-related heights, and might influence development and maintenance of these traits. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying human height-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galatea Swart
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Genome Diagnostic Laboratory, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karlijn Meeks
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Felix Chilunga
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Venema
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Genome Diagnostic Laboratory, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charles Agyemang
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eva van der Linden
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Genome Diagnostic Laboratory, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van der Heijden TGW, Chilunga FP, Meeks KAC, Addo J, Danquah I, Beune EJ, Bahendeka SK, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Mockenhaupt FP, Waltz MM, Agyemang C. The Magnitude and Directions of the Associations between Early Life Factors and Metabolic Syndrome Differ across Geographical Locations among Migrant and Non-Migrant Ghanaians-The RODAM Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182211996. [PMID: 34831754 PMCID: PMC8622143 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life factors (ELFs) such as childhood nutrition and childhood socio-economic status could be the drivers of the increase in metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among African populations, but data are lacking. This study evaluated whether markers of childhood nutritional status and childhood socio-economic status were associated with MetSyn in adulthood among migrant Ghanaians living in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians living in Ghana. METHODS Data from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study, involving 2008 migrants and 2320 non-migrants aged ≥25 years, were analysed for this study. We used leg-length to height ratio (LHR), which is an anthropometric marker of childhood nutritional status, and parental education, which is a marker of childhood socio-economic status, as proxies. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by logistic regression with adjustments for demographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Parental education was higher among Ghanaians in Europe than among residents in rural and urban Ghana. The prevalence of MetSyn was 18.5%, 27.7% and 33.5% for rural, urban, and migrant residents, respectively. LHR was inversely associated with MetSyn among migrants. Compared with high paternal education, individuals with low paternal education had lower odds of MetSyn in migrants (AOR 0.71 95% CI 0.54-0.94). In contrast, compared with high maternal education, individuals with intermediate maternal education had higher odds of MetSyn in urban Ghanaians (AOR 4.53 95% CI 1.50-3.74). No associations were found among rural Ghanaians. CONCLUSION The magnitude and direction of the associations between ELFs and MetSyn differ across geographical locations. Intermediate maternal education was positively associated with MetSyn among urban Ghanaians, while LHR and low paternal education were inversely associated with MetSyn among migrant Ghanaians. Further research into the interplay of genetics, environment and behaviour is needed to elucidate the underlying pathological mechanisms of MetSyn amongst migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs G. W. van der Heijden
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (F.P.C.); (E.J.B.); (C.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Felix P. Chilunga
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (F.P.C.); (E.J.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Karlijn A. C. Meeks
- Center for Research on Genomics & Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA;
| | - Juliet Addo
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Ina Danquah
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Erik J. Beune
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (F.P.C.); (E.J.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Silver K. Bahendeka
- Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School (MKPGMS), Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala 32297, Uganda;
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands;
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Frank P. Mockenhaupt
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Mitzi M. Waltz
- Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Charles Agyemang
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (F.P.C.); (E.J.B.); (C.A.)
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Kumaran K, Joshi SM, Di Gravio C, Lubree H, Joglekar C, Bhat D, Kinare A, Bavdekar A, Bhave S, Pandit A, Osmond C, Yajnik C, Fall C. Do components of adult height predict body composition and cardiometabolic risk in a young adult South Asian Indian population? Findings from a hospital-based cohort study in Pune, India: Pune Children's Study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036897. [PMID: 33033015 PMCID: PMC7542941 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated whether the relationship between components of height and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk may be explained by body composition. We also examined relationships between parental heights and offspring CVD risk. DESIGN A cohort study using cross-sectional data. SETTING A secondary care hospital setting in Pune, India. PARTICIPANTS We studied 357 young adults and their parents in the Pune Children's Study. Primary and secondary outcomes: we measured weight, total height, leg length, sitting height, plasma glucose, insulin and lipids, and blood pressure (BP). Total and regional lean and fat mass were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Leg length was inversely related, and sitting height was directly related to BMI. Total height and leg length were directly related to lean mass, while sitting height was directly related to both lean and fat mass. Leg length was inversely related to systolic BP and 120 min glucose, independent of lean and fat mass. Sitting height was directly related to systolic BP and triglycerides; these relationships were attenuated on adjustment for lean and fat mass. When examined simultaneously, greater leg length was protective and greater sitting height was associated with a more detrimental CVD risk profile. CONCLUSIONS Shorter adult leg length and greater sitting height are associated with a more adverse CVD risk factor profile. The mechanisms need further study, but our findings suggest a role for lean and fat mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyanaraman Kumaran
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
- Epidemiology Research Unit, CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Suyog M Joshi
- Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Chiara Di Gravio
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Himangi Lubree
- Vadu Rural Health Centre, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Charudatta Joglekar
- Department of Statistics, BKL Walawalkar Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
| | - Dattatray Bhat
- Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Arun Kinare
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, Bharati Medical College and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ashish Bavdekar
- Department of Paediatrics, KEM Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sheila Bhave
- Department of Paediatrics, KEM Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anand Pandit
- Department of Paediatrics, KEM Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Clive Osmond
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
| | | | - Caroline Fall
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
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