Identification and functional characterisation of DNA methylation differences between East- and West-originating Finns.

ABSTRACT: Eastern and Western Finns show a striking difference in coronary heart disease-related mortality; genetics is a known contributor for this discrepancy. Here, we discuss the potential role of DNA methylation in mediating the discrepancy in cardiometabolic disease-risk phenotypes between the sub-populations. We used data from the Young Finns Study (n = 969) to compare the genome-wide DNA methylation levels of East- and West-originating Finns. We identified 21 differentially methylated loci (FDR < 0.05; Δβ >2.5%) and 7 regions (smoothed FDR < 0.05; CpGs ≥ 5). Methylation at all loci and regions associates with genetic variants (p < 5 × 10^-8). Independently of genetics, methylation at 11 loci and 4 regions associates with transcript expression, including genes encoding

SUBMITTER: Ciantar J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11382697 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature