Characterisation of ethnic differences in DNA methylation between UK-resident South Asians and Europeans

• DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01351-2
• Publication Date: 2022-10-15T13:02:31Z
• Authors: Hannah R. Elliott; Kimberley Burrows; Josine L. Min; Therese Tillin; Dan Mason; John Wright; Gillian Santorelli; George Davey Smith; Deborah A. Lawlor; Alun D. Hughes; Nishi Chaturvedi; Caroline L. Relton
• Keywords: Human genetics

Ethnic differences in non-communicable disease risk have been described between individuals of South Asian and European ethnicity that are only partially explained by genetics other known factors. DNA methylation is one underexplored mechanism may explain risk. Currently, there little knowledge how varies ethnicities. This study characterised blood self-reported from two UK-based cohorts: Southall Brent Revisited Born Bradford. ethnicities were widespread throughout the genome (n = 16,433 CpG sites, 3.4% sites tested). Specifically, 76% associations attributable to ethnic cell composition with fewer effects smoking genetic variation. Ethnicity-associated enriched for EWAS Catalog phenotypes including metabolites. work highlights need consider diversity epigenetic research.