- Title
- VDR gene methylation as a molecular adaption to light exposure: historic, recent and genetic influences
- Creator
- Beckett, Emma L.; Jones, Patrice; Veysey, Martin; Duesing, Konsta; Martin, Charlotte; Furst, John; Yates, Zoe; Jablonski, Nina G.; Chaplin, George; Lucock, Mark
- Relation
- Funding BodyARCGrant NumberG0188386
- Relation
- American Journal of Human Biology Vol. 29, Issue 5, no. e23010
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23010
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2017
- Description
- Objectives: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. We examined whether degree of VDR gene methylation acts as a molecular adaptation to light exposure. We explored this in the context of photoperiod at conception, recent UV irradiance at 305 nm, and gene-latitude effects. Methods: Eighty subjects were examined for VDR gene-CpG island methylation density. VDR gene variants were also examined by PCR-RFLP. Results: Photoperiod at conception was significantly positively related to VDR methylation density, explaining 17% of the variance in methylation (r2 = 0.17; P = .001). Within this model, photoperiod at conception and plasma 25(OH)D independently predicted methylation density at the VDR-CpG island. Recent UV exposure at 305 nm led to a fivefold increase in mean methylation density (P = .02). Again, UV exposure and plasma 25(OH)D independently predicted methylation density at the VDR-CpG island. In the presence of the BsmI mutant allele, methylation density was increased (P = .01), and in the presence of the TaqI or FokI mutant allele, methylation density was decreased (P = .007 and .04 respectively). Multivariate modelling suggests plasma 25(OH)D, photoperiod at conception, recent solar irradiance, and VDR genotype combine as independent predictors of methylation at the VDR-CpG island, explaining 34% of the variance in methylation (R2 = 0.34, P < .0001). Conclusions: Duration of early-life light exposure and strength of recent irradiance, along with latitudinal genetic factors, influence degree of VDR gene methylation consistent with this epigenetic phenomenon being a molecular adaptation to variation in ambient light exposure. Findings contribute to our understanding of human biology.
- Subject
- vitamin D receptor; transcription factors; gene methylation; molecular adaptation; light exposure
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1349602
- Identifier
- uon:30422
- Identifier
- ISSN:1042-0533
- Rights
- This is the pre-peer reviewed version of above article, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23010. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
- Reviewed
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