Epigenome-wide analysis links SMAD3 methylation at birth to asthma in children of asthmatic mothers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The timing and mechanisms of asthma inception remain imprecisely defined. Although epigenetic mechanisms likely contribute to asthma pathogenesis, little is known about their role in asthma inception.

Objective

We sought to assess whether the trajectory to asthma begins already at birth and whether epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, contribute to asthma inception.

Methods

We used the Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay chip to survey DNA methylation in cord blood mononuclear cells from 36 children (18 nonasthmatic and 18 asthmatic subjects by age 9 years) from the Infant Immune Study (IIS), an unselected birth cohort closely monitored for asthma for a decade. SMAD3 methylation in IIS (n = 60) and in 2 replication cohorts (the Manchester A

SUBMITTER: DeVries A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5479765 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature