Accelerated epigenetic age as a biomarker of cardiovascular sensitivity to traffic-related air pollution.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND: Accelerated epigenetic age has been proposed as a biomarker of increased aging, which may indicate disruptions in cellular and organ system homeostasis and thus contribute to sensitivity to environmental exposures. METHODS: Using 497 participants from the CATHGEN cohort, we evaluated whether accelerated epigenetic aging increases cardiovascular sensitivity to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure. We used residential proximity to major roadways and source apportioned air pollution models as measures of TRAP exposure, and chose peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and blood pressure as outcomes based on previous associations with TRAP. We used Horvath epigenetic age acceleration (AAD) and phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAAD) as measures of age acceleration, and adjusted all models for chronological age, race, sex, smoking, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: We observed significant interactions between TRAP and both AAD and PhenoAAD. Interactions indicated that increased epigenetic age acceleration elevated associations between proximity to roadways and PAD. Interactions were also observed between AAD and gasoline and diesel source apportioned PM2.5. CONCLUSION: Epigenetic age acceleration may be a biomarker of sensitivity to air pollution, particularly for TRAP in urban cohorts. This presents a novel means by which to understand sensitivity to air pollution and provides a molecular measure of environmental sensitivity.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Ward-Caviness, CK; Russell, AG; Weaver, AM; Slawsky, E; Dhingra, R; Kwee, LC; Jiang, R; Neas, LM; Diaz-Sanchez, D; Devlin, RB; Cascio, WE; Olden, K; Hauser, ER; Shah, SH; Kraus, WE
Published Date
- December 7, 2020
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 12 / 23
Start / End Page
- 24141 - 24155
PubMed ID
- 33289704
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC7762491
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1945-4589
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.18632/aging.202341
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States