DNA Methylation Biomarkers
![Cycle showing the connection between external environment, epigenetics, and health and disease](https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=0VJuThgB 200w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=dWea25ll 260w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=ByU6P2IO 320w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=FKDWcjHD 400w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=cse8RFYu 520w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=5Zqz2eFR 640w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=xVq0q3Te 800w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=WUcSB5_A 1040w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=seCFxK9t 1234w, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2024-06/dna_methylation_biomarkers.png?itok=NBQaVgMz 1280w)
Figure Reference: Made by A. Kupsco with Biorender
Characterizing the epigenetic mechanisms underlying environmental disease has the potential to provide novel biomarkers and therapeutics for critical intervention and prevention efforts. DNA methylation is a key epigenetic regulator of gene expression that can reflect a cellular memory of past exposures. Through the Columbia University North Plains Superfund Research Program, we have been working to profile DNA methylation biomarkers over 10 years in American Indians. We have demonstrated that epigenetic biomarkers of lead exposure, an important cardiotoxic metal, are related to cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in the absence of explicit lead biomarkers. We further found that epigenetic biomarkers of DNA methylation aging were associated with cadmium and zinc levels in American Indians.
In the wet lab, we use DNA methylation arrays from Illumina to measure epigenetics at 850,000 sites across the genome. We also have expertise in targeted bisulfite sequencing and welcome collaborations with whole genome bisulfite sequencing or reduced representation bisulfite sequencing.
Sample Publications
Gaylord A, Cohen AA, Kupsco A, Biomarkers of aging through the life course: A Recent Literature Update. Current opinion in epidemiology and public health. 2023, 2(2): 7-17. PMCID: PMC10732539.
Lieberman-Cribbin W, Domingo-Relloso A, Navas-Acien A, Cole S, Haack K, Umans J, Tellez-Plaza M, Colicino E, Baccarelli AA, Gao X, Kupsco A. Epigenetic biomarkers of lead exposure and cardiovascular disease: prospective evidence in the Strong Heart Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Dec 6;11(23):e026934. PMID: 36382957.
Boyer K, Domingo-Relloso A, Jiang E, Haack K, Goessler W, Zhang Y, Umans JG, Belsky DW, Cole S, Navas-Acien A, Kupsco A. Metal Mixtures and DNA Methylation Measures of Biological Aging in American Indian Populations. Environment International. 2023, 178: 108064. PMCID: PMC10617409