Journal article
DNA Methylation Is Associated With Exercise-Related Factors Among Adults With Overweight/Obesity
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30
01 Nov 2022
Abstract
Background: Identifying associations between epigenetic markers and exercise-related outcomes among adults with overweight/obesity is a first step in developing precision treatments to improve suboptimal adherence to physical activity (PA) recommendations in behavioral weight loss interventions. Methods: Whole blood DNA methylation (DNAme) was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC assay with 463,963 probes passing quality control filters. Outcome measures included motivation for exercise (BREQ-3) and patterns of PA (activPAL, worn over 7 d). The cross-sectional association between DNAme and outcomes was examined using linear regression and a 10% false discovery rate (FDR) to adjust for multiple testing across CpGs. Gene set overrepresentation analyses were performed by entering the top 250 genes into Enrichr (FDR <.05). Results: Subjects included 62 adults (41+10 y; 89% White; 76% Female, BMI 33+4 kg/m2). 18 CpGs were associated with integrated regulation (exercise integrated into self-concept). Of the 18, 4 CpGs annotated onto 4 genes relevant to motivation and exercise: 1) PDE4B, where expression is associated with exercise training and dopamine signaling, but inhibition with obesity, 2) HOTAIR, where expression is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and cancer, 3) ADAMTSL3, where expression is associated with greater lean body mass and elite athletes, and 4) TFEB, a mediator of the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism. We identified 9261 CpGs mapping onto 16 pathways that were associated with total step count (steps/ d). Top hits (p<.05) included: maturity onset diabetes of the young, glutamatergic synapse, cocaine addiction, and Wnt signaling. We identified 6048 CpGs mapping onto 31 pathways that were associated with total stepping time (min/d). Top hits (p<.01) included: neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, glutamatergic synapse, cocaine addiction, maturity onset diabetes of the young, and circadian rhythm. No CpGs were associated with other exercise motives, sitting time, or time stepping at cadence >75 or >100 steps/min. Conclusions: Results identified novel associations between epigenetic markers and exercise-related outcomes among adults with overweight/obesity. These exploratory findings provide a foundation for treating obesity by working with a person's underlying biology, rather than against it.
Metrics
5 Record Views
Details
- Title
- DNA Methylation Is Associated With Exercise-Related Factors Among Adults With Overweight/Obesity
- Creators
- Lindsay ShoganSarah BorengasserEmily CooperCuining LiuKatherina Kechris-MaysErica LafataJasper HeinsbroekMaggie StanislawskiSeth CreasyVictoria CatenacciDanielle Ostendorf
- Publication Details
- Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- WELL Center
- Identifiers
- 991020836480804721