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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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