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Neonatal DNA methylation profile in humans is specified by a complex interplay between intrauterine environmental/ genetic factors subject to tissue-specific influence

ABSTRACT: Comparison between groups of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins enables an estimation of the relative contribution of genetic, shared and non-shared environmental factors to phenotypic variability. Using DNA methylation profiling of ~20,000 CpG sites as a phenotype, we have examined discordance levels in multiple tissues in neonatal twins. MZ twins exhibit a wide range of within-pair differences at birth, but show discordance levels generally lower than DZ pairs. Within-pair methylation discordance was lowest in CpG islands in all twins and increased as a function of distance from islands. This was largely independent of distance from transcriptional start site in promoters without CpG islands. Variance component decomposition analysis of DNA methylation in MZ and DZ pairs revealed a low mean heritability across all tissues, although a wide range of heritabilities was detected for specific genomic CpG sites. The largest component of variation was attributed to the combined effects of non-shared intrauterine environment and stochastic factors. Regression analysis of methylation on birth weight revealed a general association between methylation of genes involved in metabolism and biosynthesis, providing further support for epigenetic change in the previously described link between low birth weight and increasing risk for cardiovascular, metabolic and other complex diseases. Finally, comparison of our data with that of several older twins, revealed little evidence for genome-wide epigenetic drift with increasing age. This is the first study to analyse DNA methylation on a genome scale in twins at birth, further highlighting the importance of the intrauterine environment on shaping the neonatal epigenome.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE36642 | GEO | 2012/07/18

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA153645

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Low birth weight is associated with an increased adult metabolic disease risk. It is widely discussed that poor intrauterine conditions could induce long-lasting epigenetic modifications, leading to systemic changes in regulation of metabolic genes. In a unique cohort of 17 monozygotic (MZ) monochorionic female twins very discordant for birth weight (relative differences ranging from 21.3-35.7%), we examined if adverse prenatal growth conditions experienced by the smaller co-twins lead to systemic long-lasting DNA methylation changes. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles were acquired from saliva DNA using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, targeting ~2% of all CpGs in the genome. Results: Overall, co-twins showed very similar genome-wide DNA methylation profiles. Since observed differences were almost exclusively caused by variable cellular composition, an original marker-based adjustment strategy was developed to eliminate such variation at affected CpGs. Among adjusted and unchanged CpGs 3153 were differentially methylated between the heavy and light co-twins at nominal significance (p<0.01), of which 45 showed absolute mean β-value differences >0.05 (max=0.08). Deep bisulfite sequencing of eight such loci revealed that differences remained in the range of technical variation, arguing against a reproducible biological effect. Analysis of methylation in repetitive elements using methylation-dependent primer extension assays also indicated no significant intra-pair differences. Conclusions: Severe intrauterine growth differences observed within these MZ twins are not associated with long-lasting DNA methylation differences in cells composing saliva, detectable with up-to-date technologies. Additionally, our results indicate that uneven cell type composition can lead to spurious results and should be addressed in epigenomic studies. DNA methylation profiles of saliva from 17 Adult Female MZ MC Twins discordant for birth weight.

Project description:DNA methylation appears to play an essential mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of ALL, thereby potentiate its use as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis (Milani, Lundmark et al. 2010; Geng, Brennan et al. 2012; Sandoval, Heyn et al. 2013), and even a potential target of novel therapeutic approaches in ALL. In present study, we collected blood specimens for 4 pairs of monozygotic twins (MZ) and 1 pair of dizygotic twin (DZ) that are discordant for ALL. We sought to comprehensively assess the magnitude of genetic and epigenetic differences between ALL-affected and unaffected twins. we conducted whole genome and whole methylome sequencing on these five pairs of ALL-discordant twins. We also examined both the MZ and DZ twins using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). At first, the methylation differences across the genome were addressed globally by Circos software. And then tried to characterize the co-twin methylation divergence in specific genomic regions between ALL-discordant twin pairs. These patterns of dynamic co-twin methylation changes in these discordant ALL samples were generally consistent among MZ and DZ twins, indicating similarities of methylation abnormalities. As a result, 780, 566, 309, 293 and 2110 DMRs were identified, with a similar distribution pattern across different genomic elements among the five twin pairs.Then we annotate whether these DMRs were located in regulatory elements and identification of genes with recurring methylation alterations in a cohort of ALL patients. We collected blood specimens from 4 pairs of MZ twins and 1 pair of DZ twin that are discordant for ALL. At first, the methylation differences across the genome were addressed globally by Circos software. And then tried to characterize the co-twin methylation divergence in specific genomic regions and differentially methylated gene regions (DMRs) were identified between ALL-discordant twin pairs. Then we annotate whether these DMRs were located in regulatory elements and identification of genes with recurring methylation alterations in a cohort of ALL patients.

Project description:The human gut microbiota harbors methanogens represented by the dominant archaeon, Methanobrevibacter smithii, a polyphyletic group of acetogens, and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Defining their roles in the H2-economy of the gut has potential therapeutic importance for modulating the efficiency of fermentation of dietary components. We quantified methanogens in fecal samples from 40 healthy adult female monozygotic(MZ) and 28 dizygotic(DZ) twin pairs, analyzed bacterial 16S rRNA datasets generated from their fecal samples to identify taxa that co-occur with methanogens, sequenced the genomes of 20 M. smithii strains isolated from families of MZ and DZ twins, and performed RNA-Seq of a subset of strains to identify their responses to varied formate concentrations. The concordance rate for methanogen carriage was significantly higher for MZ versus DZ twin pairs. Co-occurrence analysis revealed 22 bacterial species-level taxa positively correlated with methanogens: all but two were members of the Clostridiales, with several being, or related to, known hydrogen-producing and -consuming bacteria. The M. smithii pan-genome contains 987 genes conserved in all strains, and 1860 variably represented genes. Strains from MZ and DZ twin pairs had a similar degree of shared genes and SNPs, and were significantly more similar than strains isolated from mothers or members of other families. The 101 adhesin-like proteins(ALPs) in the pan-genome (45±6/strain) exhibit strain-specific differences in expression and responsiveness to formate. We hypothesize that M. smithii strains use their different repertoires of ALPs to create diversity in their metabolic niches, by allowing them to establish syntrophic relationships with bacterial partners with differing metabolic capabilities and patterns of co-occurrence These strains were isolated from human feces, but they are in pure culture now. All the information about each species is associated with the genome accession number Fecal samples from 40 healthy adult female monozygotic(MZ) and 28 dizygotic(DZ) twin pairs, analyzed bacterial 16S rRNA datasets generated from their fecal samples to identify taxa that co-occur with methanogens, sequenced the genomes of 20 M. smithii strains isolated from families of MZ and DZ twins, and performed RNA-Seq of a subset of strains to identify their responses to varied formate concentrations. Strains of Methanobrevibacter smithii were grown in vitro (modified MBC media) to mid-log phase, at 37°C in serum bottles pressurized with 80% hydrogen, 20% CO2 gasses at 30psi. Cells were harvested by centrifugation, and DNA was isolated by phenol-chloroform and ethanol precipitation.

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Neonatal DNA methylation profile in humans is specified by a complex interplay between intrauterine environmental/ genetic factors subject to tissue-specific influence

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