Colombia University researchers revealed epigenetic signatures related to heart disease. The results of scientific work published in the journal Jama Cardiology will help develop methods of clinical intervention before symptoms.
Scientists analyzed the Strong Heart Study data, the largest study of cardiovascular diseases in American Indians conducted in partnership with the communities of the Great Plains and South-West since 1988. They defined specific sections of DNA, where methylation occurs – the addition of methyl groups that change the activity of genes. In this case, methylation was associated with the risk of ischemic heart disease, including a heart attack and coronary death.
The specialists then applied the same approach to four cohorts from other studies: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (divided into black and white cohorts due to differences in time and laboratory methods), Framingham Heart Study and Women’s Health Initiative. In total, scientists studied more than 400 thousand sections of DNA and 1894 case of ischemic heart disease.
506 epigenetic marks related to cardiovascular risk were revealed. Of these, 33 were also associated with cardiovascular risk in three and more cohorts. Among the 33 methylation sites were those for which the relationship with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and smoking, as well as new sites, which, according to researchers, deserve study in the future. Further analysis of the overall features between 33 labels showed that many of them are associated with the EGFR gene, which is involved in the growth and survival of cells.