B3273 - Two-sample Mendelian randomization of Sex Specific Patterns of Autosomal Methylation MR-SSPAM and later life health outcomes - 12/03/2019

B number: 
B3273
Principal applicant name: 
Ryan Arathimos | MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Caroline Relton, Dr Matthew Suderman, Thomas Richardson
Title of project: 
Two-sample Mendelian randomization of Sex Specific Patterns of Autosomal Methylation (MR-SSPAM) and later life health outcomes
Proposal summary: 

Differences in DNA methylation between sexes on the autosomes have previously been found and hypothesised to be contribute to the sexual discordance observed in various traits and diseases. Specifically, an analysis in the ALSPAC cohort determined that over 8,500 sites are differentially methylated between sexes at birth, with the differences persisting in to childhood and late adolescence. Whether these observed differences in DNA methylation between sexes are causal to diseases for which differences in prevalence by sex is also observed is currently unknown. We propose to use Mendelian randomization (a causal inference method) to determine if these differences in DNA methylation are potentially causal to a panel of diseases (and traits) which are known to demonstrate differences in prevalence between sexes observationally.

Impact of research: 
Results will be published as a peer-reviewed paper. The results of study will inform understanding of how DNA methylation differences between sexes may contribute to the observed differences between sexes, with the potential to further the biological or mechanistic understanding of the diseases explored.
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 March, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 12 March, 2019
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Statistical methods, Genetic epidemiology