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Blood Leukocyte DNA Methylation Predicts Risk of Future Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Heart Disease
Golareh Agha1, Michael M Mendelson2,3,4, Cavin K Ward-Caviness5,6
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York (G.A., A.A.B.).
Insights
DNA methylation in blood is linked to future coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. These findings, from large prospective studies, may help predict and understand CHD development.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- DNA methylation is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).
- Previous evidence was limited by small, cross-sectional studies.
- This study investigates blood DNA methylation in relation to incident CHD in large prospective cohorts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between blood DNA methylation patterns and the risk of developing incident coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To identify specific DNA methylation sites (CpGs) associated with future CHD events.
- To explore the potential causal role of DNA methylation in CHD development.
Main Methods:
- Epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiling using Illumina Infinium 450k microarray across nine population-based cohorts.
- Prospective ascertainment of CHD events (myocardial infarction, revascularization, coronary death).
- Meta-analysis of race-specific Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for relevant covariates and cell type proportions.
Main Results:
- 52 CpG sites in blood DNA methylation were significantly associated with incident CHD or myocardial infarction.
- Associated CpGs map to genes involved in calcium regulation, kidney function, and previously identified CHD risk factors.
- Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal role for DNA methylation in incident CHD.
Conclusions:
- Blood DNA methylation is associated with future coronary heart disease (CHD) risk across diverse populations.
- DNA methylation may serve as a valuable biomarker for CHD risk prediction.
- Further research into methylation patterns can enhance understanding of CHD pathogenesis.
Background:
DNA methylation is implicated in coronary heart disease (CHD), but current evidence is based on small, cross-sectional studies. We examined blood DNA methylation in relation to incident CHD across multiple prospective cohorts.
Methods:
Nine population-based cohorts from the United States and Europe profiled epigenome-wide blood leukocyte DNA methylation using the Illumina Infinium 450k microarray, and prospectively ascertained CHD events including coronary insufficiency/unstable angina, recognized myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and coronary death. Cohorts conducted race-specific analyses adjusted for age, sex, smoking, education, body mass index, blood cell type proportions, and technical variables. We conducted fixed-effect meta-analyses across cohorts.
Results:
Among 11 461 individuals (mean age 64 years, 67% women, 35% African American) free of CHD at baseline, 1895 developed CHD during a mean follow-up of 11.2 years. Methylation levels at 52 CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) sites were associated with incident CHD or myocardial infarction (false discovery rate<0.05). These CpGs map to genes with key roles in calcium regulation (ATP2B2, CASR, GUCA1B, HPCAL1), and genes identified in genome- and epigenome-wide studies of serum calcium (CASR), serum calcium-related risk of CHD (CASR), coronary artery calcified plaque (PTPRN2), and kidney function (CDH23, HPCAL1), among others. Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal effect of DNA methylation on incident CHD; these CpGs map to active regulatory regions proximal to long non-coding RNA transcripts.
Conclusion:
Methylation of blood-derived DNA is associated with risk of future CHD across diverse populations and may serve as an informative tool for gaining further insight on the development of CHD.
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