Effects of short‐term exposure to inhalable particulate matter on DNA methylation of tandem repeats. (17th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Liqiong; Byun, Hyang‐Min; Zhong, Jia; Motta, Valeria; Barupal, Jitendra; Zheng, Yinan; Dou, Chang; Zhang, Feiruo; McCracken, John P.; Diaz, Anaité; Marco, Sanchez‐Guerra; Colicino, Silvia; Schwartz, Joel; Wang, Sheng; Hou, Lifang; Baccarelli, Andrea A.
• Is Part Of: Environmental and molecular mutagenesis. Volume 55:Number 4(2014:May)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2014-01-17
• Subjects: Mutagenesis -- Periodicals; Molecular genetics -- Periodicals; Mutagenèse -- Périodiques; Mutagenèse chimique -- Périodiques; Mutation -- Périodiques; Maladies de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Génétique moléculaire -- Périodiques; 576.542
• DOI: 10.1002/em.21838
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0893-6692

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>There is compelling evidence that particulate matter (PM) increases lung cancer risk by triggering systemic inflammation, and leukocyte DNA hypomethylation. However, previous investigations focused on repeated element sequences from LINE‐1 and <italic>Alu</italic> families. Tandem repeats, which display a greater propensity to mutate, and are often hypomethylated in cancer patients, have never been investigated in individuals exposed to PM. We measured methylation of three tandem repeats (<italic>SATα</italic>, <italic>NBL2</italic>, and <italic>D4Z4</italic>) by polymerase chain reaction–pyrosequencing on blood samples from truck drivers and office workers (60 per group) in Beijing, China. We used lightweight monitors to measure personal PM<sub>2.5</sub> (PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) and elemental carbon (a tracer of PM from vehicular traffic). Ambient PM<sub>10</sub> data were obtained from air quality measuring stations. Overall, an interquartile increase in personal PM<sub>2.5</sub> and ambient PM<sub>10</sub> levels was associated with a significant covariate‐adjusted decrease in <italic>SATα</italic> methylation (−1.35% 5‐methyl cytosine [5mC], <italic>P</italic> = 0.01; and −1.33%5mC; <italic>P</italic> = 0.01, respectively). Effects from personal PM<sub>2.5</sub> and ambient PM<sub>10</sub> on <italic>SATα</italic> methylation were stronger in truck drivers (−2.34%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.02; −1.44%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.06) than office workers (−0.95%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.26; −1.25%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.12, respectively). Ambient PM<sub>10</sub> was negatively correlated with <italic>NBL2</italic> methylation in truck drivers (−1.38%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.03) but not in office workers (1.04%5mC, <italic>P</italic> = 0.13). Our result suggests that PM exposure is associated with hypomethylation of selected tandem repeats. Measuring tandem‐repeat hypomethylation in easy‐to‐obtain blood specimens might identify individuals with biological effects and potential cancer risk from PM exposure. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:322–335, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>