DNA methylation of Th2 lineage determination genes at birth is associated with allergic outcomes in childhood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is now increasing evidence that asthma and atopy originate in part in utero, with disease risk being associated with the altered epigenetic regulation of genes.

Objective and methods

To determine the relationship between variations in DNA methylation at birth and the development of allergic disease, we examined the methylation status of CpG loci within the promoter regions of Th1/2 lineage commitment genes (GATA3, IL-4, IL-4R, STAT4 and TBET) in umbilical cord DNA at birth in a cohort of infants from the Southampton Women's Survey (n = 696) who were later assessed for asthma, atopic eczema and atopy.

Results

We found that higher methylation of GATA3 CpGs -2211/-2209 at birth was associated with a reduced risk of asthma at ages 3 (median ratio [median

SUBMITTER: Barton SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5681244 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature