The relative contribution of DNA methylation and genetic variants on protein biomarkers for human diseases

PLoS Genet. 2017 Sep 15;13(9):e1007005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007005. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Associations between epigenetic alterations and disease status have been identified for many diseases. However, there is no strong evidence that epigenetic alterations are directly causal for disease pathogenesis. In this study, we combined SNP and DNA methylation data with measurements of protein biomarkers for cancer, inflammation or cardiovascular disease, to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and epigenetic variation on biomarker levels. A total of 121 protein biomarkers were measured and analyzed in relation to DNA methylation at 470,000 genomic positions and to over 10 million SNPs. We performed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses, and integrated biomarker, DNA methylation and SNP data using between 698 and 1033 samples depending on data availability for the different analyses. We identified 124 and 45 loci (Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.05) with effect sizes up to 0.22 standard units' change per 1% change in DNA methylation levels and up to four standard units' change per copy of the effective allele in the EWAS and GWAS respectively. Most GWAS loci were cis-regulatory whereas most EWAS loci were located in trans. Eleven EWAS loci were associated with multiple biomarkers, including one in NLRC5 associated with CXCL11, CXCL9, IL-12, and IL-18 levels. All EWAS signals that overlapped with a GWAS locus were driven by underlying genetic variants and three EWAS signals were confounded by smoking. While some cis-regulatory SNPs for biomarkers appeared to have an effect also on DNA methylation levels, cis-regulatory SNPs for DNA methylation were not observed to affect biomarker levels. We present associations between protein biomarker and DNA methylation levels at numerous loci in the genome. The associations are likely to reflect the underlying pattern of genetic variants, specific environmental exposures, or represent secondary effects to the pathogenesis of disease.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers*
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Genome, Human
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Quantitative Trait Loci / genetics*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding

The NSPHS study was funded by the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project Number K2007-66X-20270-01-3 to UG, http://www.vr.se) and the Foundation for Strategic Research. The DNA Methylation study in NSPHS has been funded by Swedish Medical Research Council (Project Number 2011-2354 to ÅJ, http://www.vr.se) and the Göran Gustafssons Foundation (ÅJ). This work has also been supported by the Swedish Society for Medical Research (ÅJ, http://www.ssmf.se), the Kjell och Märta Beijers Foundation (ÅJ), Swedish Medical Research Council (Project Number 2015-03327 to ÅJ), The Marcus Borgström Foundation (ÅJ), the the Åke Wiberg foundation (ÅJ) and the Vleugels Foundation (ÅJ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.