Meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies in newborns and children show widespread sex differences in blood DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Among children, sex-specific differences in disease prevalence, age of onset, and susceptibility have been observed in health conditions including asthma, immune response, metabolic health, some pediatric and adult cancers, and psychiatric disorders. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may play a role in the sexual differences observed in diseases and other physiological traits.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of the association of sex and cord blood DNA methylation at over 450,000 CpG sites in 8438 newborns from 17 cohorts participating in the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium. We also examined associations of child sex with DNA methylation in older children ages 5.5-10 years from 8 cohorts (n = 4268).

Results

In newbo

SUBMITTER: Solomon O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9623595 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature