DNA Methylation Smoking Scores and Risk of Islet Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Multiple studies have reported an inverse association between self-reported smoking during pregnancy and offspring type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk. We investigated the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) smoke exposure scores, parental self-reported smoking, and islet autoimmunity (IA) and T1D risk in children at high risk of T1D.

Research design and methods: We used longitudinal data from the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young cohort, including 205 IA case and 206 control participants (87 and 88 were T1D case and control participants, respectively), matched by age, race/ethnicity, and sample availability. DNAm profiles were obtained from cord or peripheral blood using the Infinium Human Methylation 450K or EPIC BeadChip. Three published DNAm smoking scores were calculated at every time point. To estimate in utero smoke exposure, participant-specific intercepts were derived from mixed-effects models of longitudinal DNAm scores. These intercepts strongly correlated with cord blood scores (r = 0.85-0.95; n = 179), indicating their utility as proxies for in utero smoke exposure. Associations with IA/T1D were evaluated using logistic regression, adjusting for HLA-DR3/4, first-degree relative status, and sex.

Results: Multivariable models showed both maternally reported smoking during pregnancy and higher DNAm smoking scores to be associated with lower risk of IA and T1D. Maternal smoking showed a strong inverse association with IA (odds ratio [OR] 0.24; 95% CI 0.10-0.54). Rauschert and McCartney DNAm scores showed consistent inverse associations with both outcomes (OR 0.65-0.83 for SD increase).

Conclusions: Our study supports existing literature indicating in utero smoke exposure is associated with reduced IA and T1D risk. Further research is essential to uncover the underlying mechanisms.