Social and physical environments early in development predict DNA methylation of inflammatory genes in young adulthood.

ABSTRACT: Chronic inflammation contributes to a wide range of human diseases, and environments in infancy and childhood are important determinants of inflammatory phenotypes. The underlying biological mechanisms connecting early environments with the regulation of inflammation in adulthood are not known, but epigenetic processes are plausible candidates. We tested the hypothesis that patterns of DNA methylation (DNAm) in inflammatory genes in young adulthood would be predicted by early life nutritional, microbial, and psychosocial exposures previously associated with levels of inflammation. Data come from a population-based longitudinal birth cohort study in metropolitan Cebu, the Philippines, and DNAm was characterized in whole blood samples from 494 participants (age 20-22 y). Analyses focused on

SUBMITTER: McDade TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5530653 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature