Genome-Wide DNA methylation profile analysis identifies differentially methylated loci associated with personal PM2.5 exposure in adults with asthma

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2024-09, Vol.282, p.116743, Article 116743
• Main Authors: Duan, Ruirui, Niu, Hongtao, Ma, Linxi, Yang, Ting
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air pollution; asthma; epigenetics; genome-wide DNA methylation; personal PM2.5 exposure
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116743

Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) is a major environmental risk factor for acute asthma exacerbation, and the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. Studies have indicated that DNA methylation is a potential mechanism linking PM2.5 to its health effects. We conducted a panel study involving 24 adult patients with asthma in Beijing,China between 2017 and 2019. PM2.5 and other atmospheric pollutant exposure data were repeatedly measured. Blood samples were collected for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. A linear mixed-effects (LME) model was conducted to identify differentially methylated probes (DMPs) associated with PM2.5 exposure. After filtering out probes that did not meet the criteria through quality control, 811,001 CpG sites were included in the LME model, and 36 DMPs were strongly associated with personal PM2.5 exposure at false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05, of which 22 and 14 DMPs negatively and positively correlated with personal PM2.5 exposure, respectively. Functional analysis revealed that DMPs affected smooth muscle cell contraction and development, extracellular matrix synthesis and secretion, T cell activation and differentiation, and inflammatory factor production. This study provides evidence linking personal PM2.5 exposure to genome-wide DNA methylation in adult patients with asthma. Identifying enrichment pathways can provide biological insights into the acute health effects of PM2.5. •Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) exposure was associated with altered DNA methylation in asthma patients.•The linear mixed-effects model identified 36 differentially methylated probes (DMPs) that link PM2.5 to DNA methylation changes.•These DMPs may be involved in asthma development.•Identifying enrichment pathways can provide insights about the effect of PM2.5 on asthma.