1
|
Ziemann M, Abeysooriya M, Bora A, Lamon S, Kasu MS, Norris MW, Wong YT, Craig JM. Direction-aware functional class scoring enrichment analysis of infinium DNA methylation data. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2375022. [PMID: 38967555 PMCID: PMC11229754 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2375022] [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] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Infinium Methylation BeadChip arrays remain one of the most popular platforms for epigenome-wide association studies, but tools for downstream pathway analysis have their limitations. Functional class scoring (FCS) is a group of pathway enrichment techniques that involve the ranking of genes and evaluation of their collective regulation in biological systems, but the implementations described for Infinium methylation array data do not retain direction information, which is important for mechanistic understanding of genomic regulation. Here, we evaluate several candidate FCS methods that retain directional information. According to simulation results, the best-performing method involves the mean aggregation of probe limma t-statistics by gene followed by a rank-ANOVA enrichment test using the mitch package. This method, which we call 'LAM,' outperformed an existing over-representation analysis method in simulations, and showed higher sensitivity and robustness in an analysis of real lung tumour-normal paired datasets. Using matched RNA-seq data, we examine the relationship of methylation differences at promoters and gene bodies with RNA expression at the level of pathways in lung cancer. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, we apply it to three other contexts where public data were available. First, we examine the differential pathway methylation associated with chronological age. Second, we investigate pathway methylation differences in infants conceived with in vitro fertilization. Lastly, we analyse differential pathway methylation in 19 disease states, identifying hundreds of novel associations. These results show LAM is a powerful method for the detection of differential pathway methylation complementing existing methods. A reproducible vignette is provided to illustrate how to implement this method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Ziemann
- Bioinformatics Working Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Mandhri Abeysooriya
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Anusuiya Bora
- Bioinformatics Working Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Séverine Lamon
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Mary Sravya Kasu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Mitchell W. Norris
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Yen Ting Wong
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M. Craig
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Madrid A, Papale LA, Bergmann PE, Breen C, Clark LR, Asthana S, Johnson SC, Keleş S, Hogan KJ, Alisch RS. Whole genome methylation sequencing in blood from persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease identifies cognitive status. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.26.615196. [PMID: 39386499 PMCID: PMC11463426 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.26.615196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whole genome methylation sequencing (WGMS) in blood identifies differential DNA methylation in persons with late-onset dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) but has not been tested in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS We used WGMS to compare DNA methylation levels at 25,244,219 CpG loci in 382 blood samples from 99 persons with MCI, 109 with AD, and 174 who are cognitively unimpaired (CU). RESULTS WGMS identified 9,756 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in persons with MCI, including 1,743 differentially methylated genes encoding proteins in biological pathways related to synapse organization, dendrite development, and ion transport. 447 DMPs exhibit progressively increasing or decreasing DNA methylation levels between CU, MCI, and AD that correspond to cognitive status. DISCUSSION WGMS identifies DMPs in known and newly detected genes in blood from persons with MCI and AD that support blood DNA methylation levels as candidate biomarkers of cognitive status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Ligia A. Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Phillip E. Bergmann
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Coleman Breen
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Ave Room 1220, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Lindsay R. Clark
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Sanjay Asthana
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Ave Room 1220, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Kirk J. Hogan
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Reid S. Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Geiger C, Needhamsen M, Emanuelsson EB, Norrbom J, Steindorf K, Sundberg CJ, Reitzner SM, Lindholm ME. DNA methylation of exercise-responsive genes differs between trained and untrained men. BMC Biol 2024; 22:147. [PMID: 38965555 PMCID: PMC11225400 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01938-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity is well known for its multiple health benefits and although the knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is increasing, our understanding of the role of epigenetics in long-term training adaptation remains incomplete. In this intervention study, we included individuals with a history of > 15 years of regular endurance or resistance training compared to age-matched untrained controls performing endurance or resistance exercise. We examined skeletal muscle DNA methylation of genes involved in key adaptation processes, including myogenesis, gene regulation, angiogenesis and metabolism. RESULTS A greater number of differentially methylated regions and differentially expressed genes were identified when comparing the endurance group with the control group than in the comparison between the strength group and the control group at baseline. Although the cellular composition of skeletal muscle samples was generally consistent across groups, variations were observed in the distribution of muscle fiber types. Slow-twitch fiber type genes MYH7 and MYL3 exhibited lower promoter methylation and elevated expression in endurance-trained athletes, while the same group showed higher methylation in transcription factors such as FOXO3, CREB5, and PGC-1α. The baseline DNA methylation state of those genes was associated with the transcriptional response to an acute bout of exercise. Acute exercise altered very few of the investigated CpG sites. CONCLUSIONS Endurance- compared to resistance-trained athletes and untrained individuals demonstrated a different DNA methylation signature of selected skeletal muscle genes, which may influence transcriptional dynamics following a bout of acute exercise. Skeletal muscle fiber type distribution is associated with methylation of fiber type specific genes. Our results suggest that the baseline DNA methylation landscape in skeletal muscle influences the transcription of regulatory genes in response to an acute exercise bout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Geiger
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Physical Activity, Prevention and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical School, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Needhamsen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric B Emanuelsson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Norrbom
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karen Steindorf
- Division of Physical Activity, Prevention and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carl Johan Sundberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Stefan M Reitzner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department for Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malene E Lindholm
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine, Stanford University, 870 Quarry Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Breen C, Papale LA, Clark LR, Bergmann PE, Madrid A, Asthana S, Johnson SC, Keleş S, Alisch RS, Hogan KJ. Whole genome methylation sequencing in blood identifies extensive differential DNA methylation in late-onset dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1050-1062. [PMID: 37856321 PMCID: PMC10916976 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION DNA microarray-based studies report differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in blood between late-onset dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitively unimpaired individuals, but interrogate < 4% of the genome. METHODS We used whole genome methylation sequencing (WGMS) to quantify DNA methylation levels at 25,409,826 CpG loci in 281 blood samples from 108 AD and 173 cognitively unimpaired individuals. RESULTS WGMS identified 28,038 DMPs throughout the human methylome, including 2707 differentially methylated genes (e.g., SORCS3, GABA, and PICALM) encoding proteins in biological pathways relevant to AD such as synaptic membrane, cation channel complex, and glutamatergic synapse. One hundred seventy-three differentially methylated blood-specific enhancers interact with the promoters of 95 genes that are differentially expressed in blood from persons with and without AD. DISCUSSION WGMS identifies differentially methylated CpGs in known and newly detected genes and enhancers in blood from persons with and without AD. HIGHLIGHTS Whole genome DNA methylation levels were quantified in blood from persons with and without Alzheimer's disease (AD). Twenty-eight thousand thirty-eight differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were identified. Two thousand seven hundred seven genes comprise DMPs. Forty-eight of 75 independent genetic risk loci for AD have DMPs. One thousand five hundred sixty-eight blood-specific enhancers comprise DMPs, 173 of which interact with the promoters of 95 genes that are differentially expressed in blood from persons with and without AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Coleman Breen
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of Wisconsin, Medical Sciences CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Ligia A. Papale
- Department of Neurological SurgeryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Lindsay R. Clark
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical CenterWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Phillip E. Bergmann
- Department of Neurological SurgeryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological SurgeryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Sanjay Asthana
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical CenterWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical CenterWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of Wisconsin, Medical Sciences CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical InformaticsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Reid S. Alisch
- Department of Neurological SurgeryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Kirk J. Hogan
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Department of AnesthesiologyUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sacdalan DB, Ul Haq S, Lok BH. Plasma Cell-Free Tumor Methylome as a Biomarker in Solid Tumors: Biology and Applications. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:482-500. [PMID: 38248118 PMCID: PMC10814449 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a fundamental mechanism of epigenetic control in cells and its dysregulation is strongly implicated in cancer development. Cancers possess an extensively hypomethylated genome with focal regions of hypermethylation at CPG islands. Due to the highly conserved nature of cancer-specific methylation, its detection in cell-free DNA in plasma using liquid biopsies constitutes an area of interest in biomarker research. The advent of next-generation sequencing and newer computational technologies have allowed for the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that utilize methylation profiling to diagnose disease and stratify risk. Methylome-based predictive biomarkers can determine the response to anti-cancer therapy. An additional emerging application of these biomarkers is in minimal residual disease monitoring. Several key challenges need to be addressed before cfDNA-based methylation biomarkers become fully integrated into practice. The first relates to the biology and stability of cfDNA. The second concerns the clinical validity and generalizability of methylation-based assays, many of which are cancer type-specific. The third involves their practicability, which is a stumbling block for translating technologies from bench to clinic. Future work on developing pan-cancer assays with their respective validities confirmed using well-designed, prospective clinical trials is crucial in pushing for the greater use of these tools in oncology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Benedict Sacdalan
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Sami Ul Haq
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Benjamin H. Lok
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Room 15-701, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
MacPhillamy C, Chen T, Hiendleder S, Williams JL, Alinejad-Rokny H, Low WY. DNA methylation analysis to differentiate reference, breed, and parent-of-origin effects in the bovine pangenome era. Gigascience 2024; 13:giae061. [PMID: 39435573 PMCID: PMC11484048 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giae061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 10/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most DNA methylation studies have used a single reference genome with little attention paid to the bias introduced due to the reference chosen. Reference genome artifacts and genetic variation, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and structural variants (SVs), can lead to differences in methylation sites (CpGs) between individuals of the same species. We analyzed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data from the fetal liver of Angus (Bos taurus taurus), Brahman (Bos taurus indicus), and reciprocally crossed samples. Using reference genomes for each breed from the Bovine Pangenome Consortium, we investigated the influence of reference genome choice on the breed and parent-of-origin effects in methylome analyses. RESULTS Our findings revealed that ∼75% of CpG sites were shared between Angus and Brahman, ∼5% were breed specific, and ∼20% were unresolved. We demonstrated up to ∼2% quantification bias in global methylation when an incorrect reference genome was used. Furthermore, we found that SNPs impacted CpGs 13 times more than other autosomal sites (P < $5 \times {10}^{ - 324}$) and SVs contained 1.18 times (P < $5 \times {10}^{ - 324}$) more CpGs than non-SVs. We found a poor overlap between differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and suggest that DMRs may be impacting enhancers that target these DEGs. DMRs overlapped with imprinted genes, of which 1, DGAT1, which is important for fat metabolism and weight gain, was found in the breed-specific and sire-of-origin comparisons. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates the need to consider reference genome effects to explore genetic and epigenetic differences accurately and identify DMRs involved in controlling certain genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Callum MacPhillamy
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia
| | - Tong Chen
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia
| | - Stefan Hiendleder
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute,, The University of Adelaide, North Adelaide SA 5006, Australia
| | - John L Williams
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Hamid Alinejad-Rokny
- BioMedical Machine Learning Lab, The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Univeristy of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Wai Yee Low
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kim S, Xu Z, Forno E, Qin Y, Park HJ, Yue M, Yan Q, Manni ML, Acosta-Pérez E, Canino G, Chen W, Celedón JC. Cis- and trans-eQTM analysis reveals novel epigenetic and transcriptomic immune markers of atopic asthma in airway epithelium. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 152:887-898. [PMID: 37271320 PMCID: PMC10592527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM) analyses uncover associations between DNA methylation markers and gene expression. Most eQTM analyses of complex diseases have focused on cis-eQTM pairs (within 1 megabase). OBJECTIVES This study sought to identify cis- and trans-methylation markers associated with gene expression in airway epithelium from youth with and without atopic asthma. METHODS In this study, the investigators conducted both cis- and trans-eQTM analyses in nasal (airway) epithelial samples from 158 Puerto Rican youth with atopic asthma and 100 control subjects without atopy or asthma. The investigators then attempted to replicate their findings in nasal epithelial samples from 2 studies of children, while also examining whether their results in nasal epithelium overlap with those from an eQTM analysis in white blood cells from the Puerto Rican subjects. RESULTS This study identified 9,108 cis-eQTM pairs and 2,131,500 trans-eQTM pairs. Trans-associations were significantly enriched for transcription factor and microRNA target genes. Furthermore, significant cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) were differentially methylated in atopic asthma and significant genes were enriched for genes differentially expressed in atopic asthma. In this study, 50.7% to 62.6% of cis- and trans-eQTM pairs identified in Puerto Rican youth were replicated in 2 smaller cohorts at false discovery rate-adjusted P < .1. Replicated genes in the trans-eQTM analysis included biologically plausible asthma-susceptibility genes (eg, HDC, NLRP3, ITGAE, CDH26, and CST1) and are enriched in immune pathways. CONCLUSIONS Studying both cis- and trans-epigenetic regulation of airway epithelial gene expression can identify potential causal and regulatory pathways or networks for childhood asthma. Trans-eQTM CpGs may regulate gene expression in airway epithelium through effects on transcription factor and microRNA target genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Kim
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Zhongli Xu
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Erick Forno
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Yidi Qin
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Hyun Jung Park
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Molin Yue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Michelle L Manni
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
| | - Edna Acosta-Pérez
- Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Glorisa Canino
- Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Wei Chen
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan C Celedón
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cao TV, Sutherland HG, Benton MC, Haupt LM, Lea RA, Griffiths LR. Exploring the Functional Basis of Epigenetic Aging in Relation to Body Fat Phenotypes in the Norfolk Island Cohort. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7862-7877. [PMID: 37886940 PMCID: PMC10605526 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic factor that is modifiable and can change over a lifespan. While many studies have identified methylation sites (CpGs) related to aging, the relationship of these to gene function and age-related disease phenotypes remains unclear. This research explores this question by testing for the conjoint association of age-related CpGs with gene expression and the relation of these to body fat phenotypes. The study included blood-based gene transcripts and intragenic CpG methylation data from Illumina 450 K arrays in 74 healthy adults from the Norfolk Island population. First, a series of regression analyses were performed to detect associations between gene transcript level and intragenic CpGs and their conjoint relationship with age. Second, we explored how these age-related expression CpGs (eCpGs) correlated with obesity-related phenotypes, including body fat percentage, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio. We identified 35 age-related eCpGs associated with age. Of these, ten eCpGs were associated with at least one body fat phenotype. Collagen Type XI Alpha 2 Chain (COL11A2), Complement C1s (C1s), and four and a half LIM domains 2 (FHL2) genes were among the most significant genes with multiple eCpGs associated with both age and multiple body fat phenotypes. The COL11A2 gene contributes to the correct assembly of the extracellular matrix in maintaining the healthy structural arrangement of various components, with the C1s gene part of complement systems functioning in inflammation. Moreover, FHL2 expression was upregulated under hypermethylation in both blood and adipose tissue with aging. These results suggest new targets for future studies and require further validation to confirm the specific function of these genes on body fat regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thao Van Cao
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Heidi G. Sutherland
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Miles C. Benton
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Larisa M. Haupt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
- ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre for the Materials Sciences of Extracellular Matrices, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Rodney A. Lea
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Lyn R. Griffiths
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (T.V.C.); (H.G.S.); (M.C.B.); (L.M.H.); (L.R.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zheng Y, Jun J, Brennan K, Gevaert O. EpiMix is an integrative tool for epigenomic subtyping using DNA methylation. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100515. [PMID: 37533639 PMCID: PMC10391348 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAme) is a major epigenetic factor influencing gene expression with alterations leading to cancer and immunological and cardiovascular diseases. Recent technological advances have enabled genome-wide profiling of DNAme in large human cohorts. There is a need for analytical methods that can more sensitively detect differential methylation profiles present in subsets of individuals from these heterogeneous, population-level datasets. We developed an end-to-end analytical framework named "EpiMix" for population-level analysis of DNAme and gene expression. Compared with existing methods, EpiMix showed higher sensitivity in detecting abnormal DNAme that was present in only small patient subsets. We extended the model-based analyses of EpiMix to cis-regulatory elements within protein-coding genes, distal enhancers, and genes encoding microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Using cell-type-specific data from two separate studies, we discover epigenetic mechanisms underlying childhood food allergy and survival-associated, methylation-driven ncRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanning Zheng
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John Jun
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kevin Brennan
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Olivier Gevaert
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen J, Higgins MJ, Hu Q, Khoury T, Liu S, Ambrosone CB, Gong Z. DNA methylation differences in noncoding regions in ER negative breast tumors between Black and White women. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1167815. [PMID: 37293596 PMCID: PMC10244512 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1167815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Incidence of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, an aggressive tumor subtype associated with worse prognosis, is higher among African American/Black women than other US racial and ethnic groups. The reasons for this disparity remain poorly understood but may be partially explained by differences in the epigenetic landscape. Methods We previously conducted genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of ER- breast tumors from Black and White women and identified a large number of differentially methylated loci (DML) by race. Our initial analysis focused on DML mapping to protein-coding genes. In this study, motivated by increasing appreciation for the biological importance of the non-protein coding genome, we focused on 96 DMLs mapping to intergenic and noncoding RNA regions, using paired Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450K array and RNA-seq data to assess the relationship between CpG methylation and RNA expression of genes located up to 1Mb away from the CpG site. Results Twenty-three (23) DMLs were significantly correlated with the expression of 36 genes (FDR<0.05), with some DMLs associated with the expression of single gene and others associated with more than one gene. One DML (cg20401567), hypermethylated in ER- tumors from Black versus White women, mapped to a putative enhancer/super-enhancer element located 1.3 Kb downstream of HOXB2. Increased methylation at this CpG correlated with decreased expression of HOXB2 (Rho=-0.74, FDR<0.001) and other HOXB/HOXB-AS genes. Analysis of an independent set of 207 ER- breast cancers from TCGA similarly confirmed hypermethylation at cg20401567 and reduced HOXB2 expression in tumors from Black versus White women (Rho=-0.75, FDR<0.001). Discussion Our findings indicate that epigenetic differences in ER- tumors between Black and White women are linked to altered gene expression and may hold functional significance in breast cancer pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Chen
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Michael J. Higgins
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Qiang Hu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Thaer Khoury
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Song Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Christine B. Ambrosone
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Zhihong Gong
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhong F, Lin Y, Zhao L, Yang C, Ye Y, Shen Z. Reshaping the tumour immune microenvironment in solid tumours via tumour cell and immune cell DNA methylation: from mechanisms to therapeutics. Br J Cancer 2023:10.1038/s41416-023-02292-0. [PMID: 37117649 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02292-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the tumour microenvironment (TME) of solid tumours has attracted more and more attention from researchers, especially those non-tumour components such as immune cells. Infiltration of various immune cells causes tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) heterogeneity, and results in different therapeutic effects. Accumulating evidence showed that DNA methylation plays a crucial role in remodelling TIME and is associated with the response towards immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). During carcinogenesis, DNA methylation profoundly changes, specifically, there is a global loss of DNA methylation and increased DNA methylation at the promoters of suppressor genes. Immune cell differentiation is disturbed, and exclusion of immune cells from the TME occurs at least in part due to DNA methylation reprogramming. Therefore, pharmaceutical interventions targeting DNA methylation are promising. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) enhance antitumor immunity by inducing transcription of transposable elements and consequent viral mimicry. DNMTis upregulate the expression of tumour antigens, mediate immune cells recruitment and reactivate exhausted immune cells. In preclinical studies, DNMTis have shown synergistic effect when combined with immunotherapies, suggesting new strategies to treat refractory solid tumours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengyun Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Changjiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, 100044, Beijing, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zheng Y, Jun J, Brennan K, Gevaert O. EpiMix: an integrative tool for epigenomic subtyping using DNA methylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.03.522660. [PMID: 36711917 PMCID: PMC9881910 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAme) is a major epigenetic factor influencing gene expression with alterations leading to cancer, immunological, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent technological advances enable genome-wide quantification of DNAme in large human cohorts. So far, existing methods have not been evaluated to identify differential DNAme present in large and heterogeneous patient cohorts. We developed an end-to-end analytical framework named "EpiMix" for population-level analysis of DNAme and gene expression. Compared to existing methods, EpiMix showed higher sensitivity in detecting abnormal DNAme that was present in only small patient subsets. We extended the model-based analyses of EpiMix to cis-regulatory elements within protein-coding genes, distal enhancers, and genes encoding microRNAs and lncRNAs. Using cell-type specific data from two separate studies, we discovered novel epigenetic mechanisms underlying childhood food allergy and survival-associated, methylation-driven non-coding RNAs in non-small cell lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanning Zheng
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John Jun
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kevin Brennan
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Olivier Gevaert
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR), Department of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vicente ALSA, Novoloaca A, Cahais V, Awada Z, Cuenin C, Spitz N, Carvalho AL, Evangelista AF, Crovador CS, Reis RM, Herceg Z, de Lima Vazquez V, Ghantous A. Cutaneous and acral melanoma cross-OMICs reveals prognostic cancer drivers associated with pathobiology and ultraviolet exposure. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4115. [PMID: 35840550 PMCID: PMC9287446 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31488-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is causally linked to cutaneous melanoma, yet the underlying epigenetic mechanisms, known as molecular sensors of exposure, have not been characterized in clinical biospecimens. Here, we integrate clinical, epigenome (DNA methylome), genome and transcriptome profiling of 112 cutaneous melanoma from two multi-ethnic cohorts. We identify UV-related alterations in regulatory regions and immunological pathways, with multi-OMICs cancer driver potential affecting patient survival. TAPBP, the top gene, is critically involved in immune function and encompasses several UV-altered methylation sites that were validated by targeted sequencing, providing cost-effective opportunities for clinical application. The DNA methylome also reveals non UV-related aberrations underlying pathological differences between the cutaneous and 17 acral melanomas. Unsupervised epigenomic mapping demonstrated that non UV-mutant cutaneous melanoma more closely resembles acral rather than UV-exposed cutaneous melanoma, with the latter showing better patient prognosis than the other two forms. These gene-environment interactions reveal translationally impactful mechanisms in melanomagenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Luiza Silva Almeida Vicente
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France.
| | - Alexei Novoloaca
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Vincent Cahais
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Zainab Awada
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Cyrille Cuenin
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Natália Spitz
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - André Lopes Carvalho
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Early Detection Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | | | - Camila Souza Crovador
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Zdenko Herceg
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Vinicius de Lima Vazquez
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Surgery-Melanoma and Sarcoma, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Akram Ghantous
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France.
| |
Collapse
|