Quality control and statistical modeling for environmental epigenetics: a study on in utero lead exposure and DNA methylation at birth.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation data assayed using pyrosequencing techniques are increasingly being used in human cohort studies to investigate associations between epigenetic modifications at candidate genes and exposures to environmental toxicants and to examine environmentally-induced epigenetic alterations as a mechanism underlying observed toxicant-health outcome associations. For instance, in utero lead (Pb) exposure is a neurodevelopmental toxicant of global concern that has also been linked to altered growth in human epidemiological cohorts; a potential mechanism of this association is through alteration of DNA methylation (e.g., at growth-related genes). However, because the associations between toxicants and DNA methylation might be weak, using appropriate quality control and statistical methods

SUBMITTER: Goodrich JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4622744 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature