DNA methylation as the link between migration and the major noncommunicable diseases: the RODAM study
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Date
2021
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Epigenomics
Abstract
Aim: We assessed epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) differences between migrant and non migrant Ghanaians. Materials & methods: We used the Illumina Infinium R HumanMethylation450 Bead Chip to profile DNAm of 712 Ghanaians in whole blood. We used linear models to detect differentially
methylated positions (DMPs) associated with migration. We performed multiple post hoc analyses to vali date our findings. Results: We identified 13 DMPs associated with migration (delta-beta values: 0.2–4.5%).
Seven DMPs in CPLX2, EIF4E3, MEF2D, TLX3, ST8SIA1, ANG and CHRM3 were independent of extrinsic ge nomic influences in public databases. Two DMPs in NLRC5 were associated with duration of stay in Europe
among migrants. All DMPs were biologically linked to migration-related factors. Conclusion: Our findings
provide the first insights into DNAm differences between migrants and non-migrants.
Description
This article is published by Epigenomics and is also available at https://doi.org/10.2217/epi-2020-0329