Particulate matter, DNA methylation in nitric oxide synthase, and childhood respiratory disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Air pollutants have been associated with childhood asthma and wheeze. Epigenetic regulation of nitric oxide synthase--the gene responsible for nitric oxide production--may be affected by air pollutants and contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and wheeze.

Objective

Our goal was to investigate the association between air pollutants, DNA methylation, and respiratory outcomes in children.

Methods

Given residential address and buccal sample collection date, we estimated 7-day, 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year cumulative average PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 and ≤ 10 µm aerodynamic diameter, respectively) exposures for 940 participants in the Children's Health Study. Methylation of 12 CpG sites in three NOS (nitric oxide synthase) genes was measured us

SUBMITTER: Breton CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3440108 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature