Circadian oscillations of cytosine modification in humans contribute to epigenetic variability, aging, and complex disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maintenance of physiological circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in human health. Numerous studies have shown that disruption of circadian rhythm may increase risk for malignant, psychiatric, metabolic, and other diseases.

Results

Extending our recent findings of oscillating cytosine modifications (osc-modCs) in mice, in this study, we show that osc-modCs are also prevalent in human neutrophils. Osc-modCs may play a role in gene regulation, can explain parts of intra- and inter-individual epigenetic variation, and are signatures of aging. Finally, we show that osc-modCs are linked to three complex diseases and provide a new interpretation of cross-sectional epigenome-wide association studies.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that loss of balance between c

SUBMITTER: Oh G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6317262 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature