Elevated polygenic burden for autism is associated with differential DNA methylation at birth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. The etiology of ASD involves both inherited and environmental risk factors, with epigenetic processes hypothesized as one mechanism by which both genetic and non-genetic variation influence gene regulation and pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify DNA methylation biomarkers of ASD detectable at birth.

Methods

We quantified neonatal methylomic variation in 1263 infants-of whom ~ 50% went on to subsequently develop ASD-using DNA isolated from archived blood spots taken shortly after birth. We used matched genotype data from the same individuals to examine the molecular c

SUBMITTER: Hannon E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5872584 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature