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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
Published on: May 6, 2022
IgG glycosylation and DNA methylation are interconnected with smoking
Annika Wahl1, Silva Kasela2, Elena Carnero-Montoro3
1Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology 2, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology 2, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Background:
Glycosylation is one of the most common post-translation modifications with large influences on protein structure and function. The effector function of immunoglobulin G (IgG) alters between pro- and anti-inflammatory, based on its glycosylation. IgG glycan synthesis is highly complex and dynamic.
Methods:
With the use of two different analytical methods for assessing IgG glycosylation, we aim to elucidate the link between DNA methylation and glycosylation of IgG by means of epigenome-wide association studies. In total, 3000 individuals from 4 cohorts were analyzed.
Results:
The overlap of the results from the two glycan measurement panels yielded DNA methylation of 7 CpG-sites on 5 genomic locations to be associated with IgG glycosylation: cg25189904 (chr.1, GNG12); cg05951221, cg21566642 and cg01940273 (chr.2, ALPPL2); cg05575921 (chr.5, AHRR); cg06126421 (6p21.33); and cg03636183 (chr.19, F2RL3). Mediation analyses with respect to smoking revealed that the effect of smoking on IgG glycosylation may be at least partially mediated via DNA methylation levels at these 7 CpG-sites.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest the presence of an indirect link between DNA methylation and IgG glycosylation that may in part capture environmental exposures.
General Significance:
An epigenome-wide analysis conducted in four population-based cohorts revealed an association between DNA methylation and IgG glycosylation patterns. Presumably, DNA methylation mediates the effect of smoking on IgG glycosylation.
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