The Effect of Inflammation-Related Lifestyle Exposures and Interactions with Gene Variants on Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 DNA Methylation

Abstract

Aim: To examine the relationship between inflammation-related lifestyle factors and long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) DNA methylation, and test for interaction by gene variants involved in one-carbon metabolism. Patients & methods: The study population consisted of 280 individuals undergoing colonoscopy screening. Multivariable linear regression was employed to examine associations of physical activity, BMI and NSAID use with LINE-1 DNA methylation and interactions with MTR and MTHFR gene variants. Results: The highest quartile of physical activity compared with the lowest was associated with higher LINE-1 DNA methylation (p = 0.005). Long-term NSAID use and a normal BMI were associated with increased LINE-1 DNA methylation among individuals with the variant MTR allele (p = 0.02; p = 0.03). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that inflammation-related exposures may influence LINE-1 DNA methylation.

Keywords::

• BMI
• DNA methylation
• gene variants
• inflammation
• lifestyle factors
• LINE-1
• NSAID use
• one-carbon metabolism
• physical activity

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The original study was funded by the Canadian Cancer Society. P Gogna is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Master’s Award and D O’Sullivan is supported by a Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

Informed consent was obtained from all participants. This study was approved by the ethics review board of Queen’s University.

Additional information

Funding

The original study was funded by the Canadian Cancer Society. P Gogna is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Master’s Award and D O’Sullivan is supported by a Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.