Association between DNA methylation in obesity-related genes and body mass index percentile in adolescents

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 14;9(1):2079. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38587-7.

Abstract

Childhood obesity remains an epidemic in the U.S. and worldwide. However, little is understood regarding the epigenetic basis of obesity in adolescents. To investigate the cross-sectional association between DNA methylation level in obesity-related genes and body mass index (BMI) percentile, data from 263 adolescents in the population-based Penn State Child Cohort follow-up exam was analysed. Using DNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes, epigenome-wide single nucleotide resolution of DNA methylation in cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites and surrounding regions was obtained. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to assess the association between site-specific methylation level and age- and sex-specific BMI percentile. Hypergeometric and permutation tests were used to determine if obesity-related genes were significantly enriched among all intragenic sites that achieved a p < 0.05 throughout the epigenome. Among the 5,669 sites related to BMI percentile with p < 0.05, 28 were identified within obesity-related genes. Obesity-related genes were significantly enriched among 103,466 intragenic sites (Phypergeometric = 0.006; Ppermutation = 0.006). Moreover, increased methylation on one site within SIM1 was significantly related to higher BMI percentile (P = 4.2E-05). If externally validated, our data would suggest that DNA methylation in obesity-related genes may relate to obesity risk in adolescents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Epigenomics / methods
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Pediatric Obesity / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SIM1 protein, human
  • DNA