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In the meantime, you can enjoy access to all the latest news, events and resources for different therapy areas on our website.DNA methylation mediates the effect of season of birth on allergy
Until recently, little was known about the biological mechanism by which season of birth influences the risk of allergic disease. 1A study published in Allergy has reported a link between DNA methylation in adulthood and season of birth. 1DNA methylation may be one of the mechanisms by which season of birth may affect allergy. 1
Researchers at the University of Southampton carried out an epigenome-wide association study in the Isle of Wight birth cohort to analyse whether season of birth leads to differential DNA methylation at age 18 (367 participants). 1Participants were also assessed for allergic outcomes (total serum IgE, atopy, eczema, rhinitis and asthma). 1Results were validated in a Dutch cohort of 8-year-old children. 1
Spring-born individuals were less likely to develop repeated eczema compared with those born in autumn (relative risk = 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.45–0.82, p=0.001). 1
The authors found 92 CpG methylation sites present at age 18 years which were associated with season of birth. 1
In the validation cohort, two-thirds of the CpG sites tested had the same direction of effect, and 4 sites were statistically significantly associated with the same birth season (p<0.05). 1
20 season-associated CpG methylation sites were nominally associated with at least 1 allergic outcome, and 2 were marginally on the causal pathway from spring birth to allergy at age 18. 1
Season-associated methylation appears to occur postnatally, as it was largely absent in newborns. 1
The authors concluded that these findings indicate that the season of birth has long-lasting effects on DNA methylation later in life, and could comprise a mechanism by which season of birth affects the risk of allergic disease. 1
