Epigenetic changes in response to tai chi practice: a pilot investigation of DNA methylation marks

Abstract

Tai chi exercise has been shown to improve physiological and psychosocial functions, well-being, quality of life, and disease conditions. The biological mechanisms by which tai chi exerts its holistic effects remain unknown. We investigated whether tai chi practice results in positive epigenetic changes at the molecular level. Design. The DNA methylation profiles of sixty CpG-dinucleotide marks in female tai chi practitioners (N = 237; 45-88 years old) who have been practising tai chi for three or more years were compared with those of age-matched control females (N = 263) who have never practised tai chi. Results. Six CpG marks originating from three different chromosomes reveal a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two cohorts. Four marks show losses while two marks show gains in DNA methylation with age in the controls. In the tai chi cohort all six marks demonstrate significant slowing (by 5-70%) of the age-related methylation losses or gains observed in the controls, suggesting that tai chi practice may be associated with measurable beneficial epigenetic changes. Conclusions. The results implicate the potential use of DNA methylation as an epigenetic biomarker to better understand the biological mechanisms and the health and therapeutic efficacies of tai chi.

Figure 1

Comparison of DNA methylation profiles against age for CpG dinucleotide marks that show a significant difference between the tai chi and control cohorts. ((a), i–iv) CpG marks Rad50_2, 17p_7, G6PD_6, and G6PD_7, showing normal DNA methylation losses in the control cohort (green) across age. Slower loss rates are seen for these marks in the tai chi cohort (red), by up to 16.03%, 4.63%, 5.09%, and 5.23%, respectively, compared to those of the control cohort, as shown by the tables below the graphs. ((b), i-ii) CpG marks Rad50_10 and Xp13_1, showing normal age-related DNA methylation gains in the control cohort (green). Slower gain rates are seen for these marks in the tai chi cohort (red), by up to 70.68% and 18.46%, respectively, compared to those of the control cohort, as shown by the tables below the graphs. Values in the tables represent average DNA methylation values for the age categories indicated, based on the linear model represented by the fitted line. “% difference” denotes the difference between the tai chi and control values expressed as a percentage of the control value. As methylation results were not available for all the participants for the individual CpG marks, the numbers of participants included in these analyses were less than the total and are shown in brackets.