Using epigenome-wide association scans of DNA methylation in age-related complex human traits

Pei-Chien Tsai; Tim D. Spector; Jordana T. Bell

doi:10.2217/EPI.12.45

Using epigenome-wide association scans of DNA methylation in age-related complex human traits

Pei-Chien Tsai, Tim D. Spector, Jordana T. Bell^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

With rapid technological advancements emerging epigenetic studies of complex traits have shifted from candidate gene analyses towards epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). EWAS aim to systematically identify epigenetic variants across the genome that associate with complex phenotypes. Recent EWAS using case-control and disease-discordant identical twin designs have identified phenotype-associated differentially methylated regions for several traits. However, EWAS still face many challenges related to methodology, design and interpretation, owing to the dynamic nature of epigenetic variants over time. This article reviews analytical considerations in conducting EWAS and recent applications of this approach to human aging and age-related complex traits.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	511-526
Number of pages	16
Journal	Epigenomics
Volume	4
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2217/EPI.12.45
Publication status	Published - Oct 2012

Keywords

age-related complex trait
differentially methylated regions
DNA methylation
epigenetics
epigenome-wide association studies
MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT
SYSTEMIC-LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS
EMBRYONIC STEM-CELLS
EPIGENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
SEQUENCE DIFFERENCES
HUMAN TRANSCRIPTOME
PROFILING REVEALS
WIDESPREAD RNA
MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS
PROSTATE-CANCER

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.2217/EPI.12.45

Cite this

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title = "Using epigenome-wide association scans of DNA methylation in age-related complex human traits",

abstract = "With rapid technological advancements emerging epigenetic studies of complex traits have shifted from candidate gene analyses towards epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). EWAS aim to systematically identify epigenetic variants across the genome that associate with complex phenotypes. Recent EWAS using case-control and disease-discordant identical twin designs have identified phenotype-associated differentially methylated regions for several traits. However, EWAS still face many challenges related to methodology, design and interpretation, owing to the dynamic nature of epigenetic variants over time. This article reviews analytical considerations in conducting EWAS and recent applications of this approach to human aging and age-related complex traits.",

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author = "Pei-Chien Tsai and Spector, {Tim D.} and Bell, {Jordana T.}",

year = "2012",

month = oct,

doi = "10.2217/EPI.12.45",

language = "English",

volume = "4",

pages = "511--526",

journal = "Epigenomics",

issn = "1750-1911",

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number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Using epigenome-wide association scans of DNA methylation in age-related complex human traits

AU - Tsai, Pei-Chien

AU - Spector, Tim D.

AU - Bell, Jordana T.

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - With rapid technological advancements emerging epigenetic studies of complex traits have shifted from candidate gene analyses towards epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). EWAS aim to systematically identify epigenetic variants across the genome that associate with complex phenotypes. Recent EWAS using case-control and disease-discordant identical twin designs have identified phenotype-associated differentially methylated regions for several traits. However, EWAS still face many challenges related to methodology, design and interpretation, owing to the dynamic nature of epigenetic variants over time. This article reviews analytical considerations in conducting EWAS and recent applications of this approach to human aging and age-related complex traits.

AB - With rapid technological advancements emerging epigenetic studies of complex traits have shifted from candidate gene analyses towards epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). EWAS aim to systematically identify epigenetic variants across the genome that associate with complex phenotypes. Recent EWAS using case-control and disease-discordant identical twin designs have identified phenotype-associated differentially methylated regions for several traits. However, EWAS still face many challenges related to methodology, design and interpretation, owing to the dynamic nature of epigenetic variants over time. This article reviews analytical considerations in conducting EWAS and recent applications of this approach to human aging and age-related complex traits.

KW - age-related complex trait

KW - differentially methylated regions

KW - DNA methylation

KW - epigenetics

KW - epigenome-wide association studies

KW - MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT

KW - SYSTEMIC-LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

KW - EMBRYONIC STEM-CELLS

KW - EPIGENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

KW - SEQUENCE DIFFERENCES

KW - HUMAN TRANSCRIPTOME

KW - PROFILING REVEALS

KW - WIDESPREAD RNA

KW - MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

KW - PROSTATE-CANCER

U2 - 10.2217/EPI.12.45

DO - 10.2217/EPI.12.45

M3 - Literature review

SN - 1750-1911

VL - 4

SP - 511

EP - 526

JO - Epigenomics

JF - Epigenomics

IS - 5

ER -

Using epigenome-wide association scans of DNA methylation in age-related complex human traits

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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