Effects of smoking on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles: A study of discordant and concordant monozygotic twin pairs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Smoking-associated DNA methylation levels identified through epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) are generally ascribed to smoking-reactive mechanisms, but the contribution of a shared genetic predisposition to smoking and DNA methylation levels is typically not accounted for.

Methods

We exploited a strong within-family design, that is, the discordant monozygotic twin design, to study reactiveness of DNA methylation in blood cells to smoking and reversibility of methylation patterns upon quitting smoking. Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip data were available for 769 monozygotic twin pairs (mean age = 36 years, range = 18-78, 70% female), including pairs discordant or concordant for current or former smoking.

Results

In pairs discordant for curren

SUBMITTER: van Dongen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10501767 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature