Changing Smoking Behavior and Epigenetics: A Longitudinal Study of 4,432 Individuals From the General Population

Sune Moeller Skov-Jeppesen, Camilla Jannie Kobylecki, Katja Kemp Jacobsen, Stig Egil Bojesen*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

3 Citationer (Scopus)
7 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Hypomethylation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) gene indicates long-term smoking exposure and might therefore be a monitor for smoking-induced disease risk. However, studies of individual longitudinal changes in AHRR methylation are sparse.

Research Question
How does the recovery of AHRR methylation depend on change in smoking behaviors and demographic variables?

Study Design and Methods
This study included 4,432 individuals from the Copenhagen City Heart Study, with baseline and follow-up blood samples and smoking information collected approximately 10 years apart. AHRR methylation at the cg05575921 site was measured in bisulfite-treated leukocyte DNA. Four smoking groups were defined: participants who never smoked (Never-Never), participants who formerly smoked (Former-Former), participants who quit during the study period (Current-Former), and individuals who smoked at both baseline and follow-up (Current-Current). Methylation recovery was defined as the increase in AHRR methylation between baseline and follow-up examination.

Results
Methylation recovery was highest among participants who quit, with a median methylation recovery of 5.58% (interquartile range, 1.79; 9.15) vs 1.64% (interquartile range, –1.88; 4.96) in the Current-Current group (P < .0001). In individuals who quit smoking, older age was associated with lower methylation recovery (P < .0001). In participants who quit aged > 65 years, methylation recovery was 5.9% at 5.6 years after quitting; methylation recovery was 8.5% after 2.8 years for participants who quit aged < 55 years.

Interpretation
AHRR methylation recovered after individuals quit smoking, and recovery was more pronounced and occurred faster in younger compared with older interim quitters.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftChest
Vol/bind163
Udgave nummer6
Sider (fra-til)1565-1575
Antal sider11
ISSN0012-3692
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The study was funded by the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital , and the Independent Research Fund Denmark .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

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