Epigenetic signatures of internal migration in Italy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Observational studies have suggested that the risks of non-communicable diseases in voluntary migrants become similar to those in the host population after one or more generations, supporting the hypothesis that these diseases have a predominantly environmental (rather than inherited) origin. However, no study has been conducted thus far to identify alterations at the molecular level that might mediate these changes in disease risk after migration.

Methods

Using genome-wide DNA methylation profiles from more than 1000 Italian participants, we conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to identify differences between south-to-north migrants and their origin (southern natives) and host (north-western natives) populations.

Results

We identified sever

SUBMITTER: Campanella G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4588856 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature