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Residential greenness-related DNA methylation changes
Ayoung Jeong1, Ikenna C Eze1, Danielle Vienneau1
1Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Environment International
|October 24, 2021
Summary
Residential greenness is linked to health benefits, potentially via DNA methylation changes. This study explored greenness-related DNA methylation profiles, finding associations with allergy and stress, suggesting mechanisms for health impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental epigenetics
- Public health research
- Molecular epidemiology
Background:
- Residential greenness is associated with health benefits, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear.
- Investigating DNA methylation profiles related to greenness can elucidate these health benefits.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify DNA methylation profiles associated with residential greenness.
- To explore the relationship between greenness exposure at different spatial scales and epigenetic modifications.
- To uncover potential biological pathways linking greenness to health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed on blood samples from the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA).
- Residential greenness was quantified using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at 30m (green30) and 500m (green500) buffers.
- Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) and enrichment analyses were conducted to identify differentially methylated regions and their biological relevance.
Main Results:
- No genome-wide significant differentially methylated CpGs were identified.
- 163 differentially methylated regions were associated with 30m greenness (green30), and 56 with 500m greenness (green500).
- Greenness-associated methylation profiles were enriched for pathways related to allergy, physical activity, and allostatic load.
Conclusions:
- Residential greenness may influence health through mechanisms involving allergic sensitization, stress response, and behavioral changes.
- DNA methylation alterations provide a potential biological link between greenness exposure and health.
- Exposure to more proximal greenness (30m) may hold greater relevance for health impacts.
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