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Bind, M.A.* ; Zanobetti, A.* ; Gasparrini, A.* ; Peters, A. ; Coull, B.* ; Baccarelli, A.* ; Tarantini, L.* ; Koutrakis, P.* ; Vokonas, P.* ; Schwartz, J.*

Effects of temperature and relative humidity on DNA methylation.

Epidemiology 25, 561-569 (2014)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
BACKGROUND:: Previous studies have found relationships between DNA methylation and various environmental contaminant exposures. Associations with weather have not been examined. Because temperature and humidity are related to mortality even on non-extreme days, we hypothesized that temperature and relative humidity may affect methylation. METHODS:: We repeatedly measured methylation on long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), Alu, and 9 candidate genes in blood samples from 777 elderly men participating in the Normative Aging Study (1999-2009). We assessed whether ambient temperature and relative humidity are related to methylation on LINE-1 and Alu, as well as on genes controlling coagulation, inflammation, cortisol, DNA repair, and metabolic pathway. We examined intermediate-term associations of temperature, relative humidity, and their interaction with methylation, using distributed lag models. RESULTS:: Temperature or relative humidity levels were associated with methylation on tissue factor (F3), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), toll-like receptor 2 (TRL-2), carnitine O-acetyltransferase (CRAT), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and glucocorticoid receptor, LINE-1, and Alu. For instance, a 5°C increase in 3-week average temperature in ICAM-1 methylation was associated with a 9% increase (95% confidence interval: 3% to 15%), whereas a 10% increase in 3-week average relative humidity was associated with a 5% decrease (-8% to -1%). The relative humidity association with ICAM-1 methylation was stronger on hot days than mild days. CONCLUSIONS:: DNA methylation in blood cells may reflect biological effects of temperature and relative humidity. Temperature and relative humidity may also interact to produce stronger effects.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Apparent Temperature; Ambient-temperature; Air-temperature; Heart-disease; Cardiovascular-disease; Outdoor Temperature; Hospital Admissions; Case-crossover; Inflammation; Coagulation
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1044-3983
e-ISSN 1531-5487
Journal Epidemiology
Quellenangaben Volume: 25, Issue: 4, Pages: 561-569 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Publishing Place Philadelphia
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)