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Updated: May 20, 2026

Targeted DNA Methylation Analysis by Next-generation Sequencing
Published on: February 24, 2015
Arsenic exposure and DNA methylation among elderly men
Angeliki Lambrou1, Andrea Baccarelli, Robert O Wright
1Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA. alambrou@hsph.harvard.edu
Low-level arsenic exposure is linked to changes in DNA methylation, particularly in Alu repetitive elements. Folate levels appear to modify this association, suggesting a role for nutrition in arsenic toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Epigenetics
- Human Health Risk Assessment
Background:
- Arsenic exposure is associated with epigenetic changes like DNA methylation.
- Previous studies focused on high exposure levels, leaving a gap in understanding low-level environmental exposure effects.
- Epigenetic modifications may mediate arsenic toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between low-level arsenic exposure and DNA methylation in repetitive elements (Alu and LINE-1).
- To examine potential effect modification by key nutritional factors (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6).
Main Methods:
- Assessed arsenic exposure using toenail levels in elderly men.
- Measured blood DNA methylation in Alu and Long Interspersed Nucleotide Element-1 (LINE-1) repetitive elements.
- Employed mixed-effects models with interaction terms to analyze data from 581 participants.
Main Results:
- A trend of increased Alu and decreased LINE-1 DNA methylation was observed with higher arsenic exposure.
- Arsenic was positively associated with Alu DNA methylation in individuals with below-median folate levels.
- A negative association between arsenic and Alu DNA methylation was found in individuals with above-median folate levels.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic exposure is associated with altered DNA methylation in Alu repetitive elements.
- Folate levels significantly modify the relationship between arsenic exposure and Alu DNA methylation.
- Nutritional status, specifically folate, may play a crucial role in modulating arsenic toxicity.
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