Reddy, K.* ; Buccholz, S.* ; Bohnhorst, A.* ; Biedermann, S.B.* ; Schaub, B.* ; Hansen, G.* ; Kopp, M.* ; Mutius, E.V.* ; Maison, N. ; Bahmer, T.* ; Rabe, K.F.* ; Schmidt-Weber, C.B. ; Jakwerth, C.* ; Dittrich, A.* ; Trojan, T.* ; Alcázar, M.A.A.* ; Grychtol, R.* ; Brinkmann, F.* ; Weckmann, M.*
     
 
    
        
Biologically aged females present a distinct symptom and DNA methylation asthma profile.
    
    
        
    
    
        
        In: (ATS International Conference Abstracts, 16-21 May 2025, San Francisco). American Thoracic Society, 2025. A5172 - A5172 (Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. ; 211)
    
    
    
		
		
			
				Introduction Asthma is distinctly sexually dimorphic. Young males
 report higher asthma rates than females. This reverses at puberty, 
where females present increased incidence, reduced therapeutic 
effectiveness and worse asthma symptoms. The underlying molecular 
mechanisms causing this remain unknown. Biological DNA methylation 
(DNAm) clocks correlate with worse outcomes in chronic diseases such as 
asthma. The DNAm profile of males and females with asthma in the context
 of DNAm aging (DNAge) is yet to be explored. As such, we aimed to 
characterise and explore the DNA methylation profile associated with 
DNAge and biological sex in asthma.  Methods Nasal brushings from
 the paediatric ALLIANCE cohort (n = 46F/74M; asthma = 73/ healthy = 31/
 wheeze = 16; avg age = 11 yr range = 3 - 20 yr) were collected and DNAm
 processed and analysed by Illumina EPIC array using R software (v4.1; watermelon, minfi).
 DNAge was calculated using the established skinHorvath clock. The 
association between DNAge, sex, symptom severity or frequency of inhaled
 corticosteroid (ICS) use was analysed. Differential methylation 
analysis (DMA) comparing pathway enrichment analyses was completed using
 R packages (limma, minfi, methylGSA). Differential DNAm significance was determined at a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05.  Results
 Highly symptomatic females with asthma are enriched for an accelerated 
DNAge compared to their male counterparts (p = 0.03). DNAge-accelerated 
females present increased asthma symptom frequency compared to 
DNAge-decelerated females and both male groups (p < 0.0001) despite 
equivalent ICS use. Focussing on highly symptomatic asthmatics, DMA 
comparing accelerated vs normal DNAged females and males revealed 459 
differentially methylated sites (FDR < 0.05). Pathway analysis 
reported enrichment for Toll-like receptor, MAPK and Wnt signalling 
pathways as well as interferon type I, virus defence and mitochondrial 
response pathways (FDR < 0.05). Conclusions Here, we highlight
 a unique subset of female asthma patients who experience more asthma 
symptoms despite an equivalent use of ICS. In addition, this DNAged 
female sub-cohort carries a distinct DNAm profile from the male 
counterparts, with enrichment for pathologically relevant signalling and
 cellular differentiation pathways. This may present a novel foundation 
and support for the use of the DNAge clock as a tool for the 
characterisation of asthma patient sub-groups.
			
			
				
			
		 
		
			
				
					
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        Publikationstyp
        Artikel: Konferenzbeitrag
    
 
    
        Dokumenttyp
        
    
 
    
        Typ der Hochschulschrift
        
    
 
    
        Herausgeber
        
    
    
        Schlagwörter
        Epigenesis
    
 
    
        Keywords plus
        
    
 
    
    
        Sprache
        englisch
    
 
    
        Veröffentlichungsjahr
        2025
    
 
    
        Prepublished im Jahr 
        0
    
 
    
        HGF-Berichtsjahr
        2025
    
 
    
    
        ISSN (print) / ISBN
        1073-449X
    
 
    
        e-ISSN
        1535-4970
    
 
    
        ISBN
        
    
 
    
        Bandtitel
        
    
 
    
        Konferenztitel
        ATS International Conference Abstracts
    
 
	
        Konferzenzdatum
        16-21 May 2025
    
     
	
        Konferenzort
        San Francisco
    
 
	
        Konferenzband
        
    
 
     
		
    
        Quellenangaben
        
	    Band: 211,  
	    Heft: Abstracts,  
	    Seiten: A5172 - A5172 
	    Artikelnummer: ,  
	    Supplement: ,  
	
    
 
  
        
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            American Thoracic Society
        
 
        
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        Peer reviewed
    
 
     
    
        POF Topic(s)
        30202 - Environmental Health
    
 
    
        Forschungsfeld(er)
        Allergy	
    
 
    
        PSP-Element(e)
        G-503300-001
G-505400-001
    
 
    
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        Erfassungsdatum
        2025-05-22