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. 2023 Feb 3;7(1):4.
doi: 10.3390/epigenomes7010004.

DNA Methylation Is a Potential Biomarker for Cardiometabolic Health in Mexican Children and Adolescents

Abeer A Aljahdali  1   2 , Jaclyn M Goodrich  3 , Dana C Dolinoy  2   3 , Hyungjin M Kim  4 , Edward A Ruiz-Narváez  2 , Ana Baylin  2   5 , Alejandra Cantoral  6 , Libni A Torres-Olascoaga  7 , Martha M Téllez-Rojo  7 , Karen E Peterson  2   3
Affiliations

DNA Methylation Is a Potential Biomarker for Cardiometabolic Health in Mexican Children and Adolescents

Abeer A Aljahdali et al. Epigenomes. .

Abstract

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a plausible mechanism underlying cardiometabolic abnormalities, but evidence is limited among youth. This analysis included 410 offspring of the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohort followed up to two time points in late childhood/adolescence. At Time 1, DNAm was quantified in blood leukocytes at long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), H19, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD-2), and at Time 2 in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). At each time point, cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed including lipid profiles, glucose, blood pressure, and anthropometry. Linear mixed effects models were used for LINE-1, H19, and 11β-HSD-2 to account for the repeated-measure outcomes. Linear regression models were conducted for the cross-sectional association between PPAR-α with the outcomes. DNAm at LINE-1 was associated with log glucose at site 1 [β = -0.029, p = 0.0006] and with log high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at site 3 [β = 0.063, p = 0.0072]. 11β-HSD-2 DNAm at site 4 was associated with log glucose (β = -0.018, p = 0.0018). DNAm at LINE-1 and 11β-HSD-2 was associated with few cardiometabolic risk factors among youth in a locus-specific manner. These findings underscore the potential for epigenetic biomarkers to increase our understanding of cardiometabolic risk earlier in life.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Mexicans; biomarkers; cardiometabolic risk factors; children and adolescents; epigenetics; population-based study.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of the Main Predictors and Outcomes for this Study and Number of Participants with the Data from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to ENvironmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) Cohort. Abbreviations: DNAm = DNA methylation; Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1); 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD-2); Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α).
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