From promises to practical strategies in epigenetic epidemiology

Jonathan Mill; Bastiaan T. Heijmans

doi:10.1038/nrg3405

From promises to practical strategies in epigenetic epidemiology

Jonathan Mill^*
, Bastiaan T. Heijmans

^*Corresponding author for this work

Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry

LUMC Leiden University Medical Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

293 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The epigenome has been heralded as a key 'missing piece' of the aetiological puzzle for complex phenotypes across the biomedical sciences. The standard research approaches developed for genetic epidemiology, however, are not necessarily appropriate for epigenetic studies of common disease. Here, we discuss the optimal execution of population-based studies of epigenetic variation, which will contribute to the emerging field of 'epigenetic epidemiology' and emphasize the importance of establishing a causal role in pathology for disease-associated epigenetic changes. We propose that improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease are best achieved through carrying out studies of epigenetics in populations as a part of an integrated functional genomics strategy.

Original language	English
Article number	N/A
Pages (from-to)	585-594
Number of pages	10
Journal	NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS
Volume	14
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3405
Publication status	Published - Aug 2013

Keywords

DIFFERENTIALLY METHYLATED REGIONS
MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT
EPIGENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION
PROMOTER DNA METHYLATION
GENE-EXPRESSION
HUMAN GENOME
DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
COMPLEX DISEASE
COHORT PROFILE

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title = "From promises to practical strategies in epigenetic epidemiology",

abstract = "The epigenome has been heralded as a key 'missing piece' of the aetiological puzzle for complex phenotypes across the biomedical sciences. The standard research approaches developed for genetic epidemiology, however, are not necessarily appropriate for epigenetic studies of common disease. Here, we discuss the optimal execution of population-based studies of epigenetic variation, which will contribute to the emerging field of 'epigenetic epidemiology' and emphasize the importance of establishing a causal role in pathology for disease-associated epigenetic changes. We propose that improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease are best achieved through carrying out studies of epigenetics in populations as a part of an integrated functional genomics strategy.",

keywords = "DIFFERENTIALLY METHYLATED REGIONS, MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT, EPIGENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION, PROMOTER DNA METHYLATION, GENE-EXPRESSION, HUMAN GENOME, DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS, PRENATAL EXPOSURE, COMPLEX DISEASE, COHORT PROFILE",

author = "Jonathan Mill and Heijmans, \{Bastiaan T.\}",

year = "2013",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1038/nrg3405",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "585--594",

journal = "NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS",

issn = "1471-0056",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "8",

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T1 - From promises to practical strategies in epigenetic epidemiology

AU - Mill, Jonathan

AU - Heijmans, Bastiaan T.

PY - 2013/8

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N2 - The epigenome has been heralded as a key 'missing piece' of the aetiological puzzle for complex phenotypes across the biomedical sciences. The standard research approaches developed for genetic epidemiology, however, are not necessarily appropriate for epigenetic studies of common disease. Here, we discuss the optimal execution of population-based studies of epigenetic variation, which will contribute to the emerging field of 'epigenetic epidemiology' and emphasize the importance of establishing a causal role in pathology for disease-associated epigenetic changes. We propose that improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease are best achieved through carrying out studies of epigenetics in populations as a part of an integrated functional genomics strategy.

AB - The epigenome has been heralded as a key 'missing piece' of the aetiological puzzle for complex phenotypes across the biomedical sciences. The standard research approaches developed for genetic epidemiology, however, are not necessarily appropriate for epigenetic studies of common disease. Here, we discuss the optimal execution of population-based studies of epigenetic variation, which will contribute to the emerging field of 'epigenetic epidemiology' and emphasize the importance of establishing a causal role in pathology for disease-associated epigenetic changes. We propose that improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease are best achieved through carrying out studies of epigenetics in populations as a part of an integrated functional genomics strategy.

KW - DIFFERENTIALLY METHYLATED REGIONS

KW - MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT

KW - EPIGENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION

KW - PROMOTER DNA METHYLATION

KW - GENE-EXPRESSION

KW - HUMAN GENOME

KW - DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS

KW - PRENATAL EXPOSURE

KW - COMPLEX DISEASE

KW - COHORT PROFILE

U2 - 10.1038/nrg3405

DO - 10.1038/nrg3405

M3 - Literature review

SN - 1471-0056

VL - 14

SP - 585

EP - 594

JO - NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS

JF - NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS

IS - 8

M1 - N/A

ER -

From promises to practical strategies in epigenetic epidemiology

Abstract

Keywords

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