Richmond, RC, Sillero-Rejon, C, Khouja, JN, Prince, C, Board, A, Sharp, G, Suderman, M, Relton, CL, Munafò, M and Gage, SH (2021) Investigating the DNA methylation profile of e-cigarette use. Clinical Epigenetics, 13 (1). ISSN 1868-7075

Preview

Text Investigating the DNA methylation profile of ecigarette use.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: Little evidence exists on the health effects of e-cigarette use. DNA methylation may serve as a biomarker for exposure and could be predictive of future health risk. We aimed to investigate the DNA methylation profile of e-cigarette use. Results: Among 117 smokers, 117 non-smokers and 116 non-smoking vapers, we evaluated associations between e-cigarette use and epigenome-wide methylation from saliva. DNA methylation at 7 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) was associated with e-cigarette use at p < 1 × 10–5 and none at p < 5.91 × 10–8. 13 CpGs were associated with smoking at p < 1 × 10–5 and one at p < 5.91 × 10–8. CpGs associated with e-cigarette use were largely distinct from those associated with smoking. There was strong enrichment of known smoking-related CpGs in the smokers but not the vapers. We also tested associations between e-cigarette use and methylation scores known to predict smoking and biological ageing. Methylation scores for smoking and biological ageing were similar between vapers and non-smokers. Higher levels of all smoking scores and a biological ageing score (GrimAge) were observed in smokers. A methylation score for e-cigarette use showed poor prediction internally (AUC 0.55, 0.41–0.69) and externally (AUC 0.57, 0.36–0.74) compared with a smoking score (AUCs 0.80) and was less able to discriminate lung squamous cell carcinoma from adjacent normal tissue (AUC 0.64, 0.52–0.76 versus AUC 0.73, 0.61–0.85). Conclusions: The DNA methylation profile for e-cigarette use is largely distinct from that of cigarette smoking, did not replicate in independent samples, and was unable to discriminate lung cancer from normal tissue. The extent to which methylation related to long-term e-cigarette use translates into chronic effects requires further investigation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; DNA Methylation; Adult; Female; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaping; Epigenome; ALSPAC; DNA methylation; SEE-Cigs; Smoking; e-cigarettes; Adult; DNA Methylation; Epigenome; Female; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaping; 31 Biological Sciences; 3105 Genetics; Tobacco; Tobacco Smoke and Health; Human Genome; Genetics; Cancer; Lung Cancer; Substance Misuse; Drug Abuse (NIDA only); Prevention; Lung; Cancer; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Adult; DNA Methylation; Epigenome; Female; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaping; 0604 Genetics; 1103 Clinical Sciences; 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine; 3105 Genetics
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	BioMed Central
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	06 Mar 2025 16:34
Last Modified:	06 Mar 2025 16:45
DOI or ID number:	10.1186/s13148-021-01174-7
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25810

View Item