Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs: Potential applications for a sentinel model of human health

Luke Montrose; Curtis W. Noonan; Yoon Hee Cho; Joongwon Lee; John Harley; Todd O'Hara; Catherine Cahill; Tony J. Ward

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046

Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs: Potential applications for a sentinel model of human health

Luke Montrose
, Curtis W. Noonan
, Yoon Hee Cho
, Joongwon Lee
, John Harley
, Todd O'Hara
, Catherine Cahill
, Tony J. Ward

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

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human populations. During the winter months in Fairbanks, Alaska, severe temperature inversions lead to elevated concentrations of ambient PM smaller than 2.5μm (PM_2.5). Sled dogs represent an easily accessible environmentally exposed population that may yield findings informative for human health risk assessment. Objectives: In this pilot study, we evaluated whether ambient PM was associated with markers of global methylation in sled dogs. Methods: Kennels were strategically recruited to provide a wide PM_2.5 exposure gradient for the Fairbanks area. Continuous monitoring of ambient PM_2.5 was conducted at each kennel during the winter of 2012/13 using a DustTrak 8530. Dogs received a physical examination and assessment of standard hematology and clinical chemistries. Global methylation was determined using the LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and 5-Methycytosine (5-mC) quantification. Results: Three sled dog kennels (n~30dogs/kennel) were evaluated and sampled. The average PM_2.5 concentrations measured for kennels A, B, and C were 90μg/m³, 48μg/m³, 16μg/m³ (p<0.0001), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by LUMA was 76.22 (1.85), 76.52 (1.82), and 76.72 (2.26), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by 5-mC was 0.16 (0.04), 0.15 (0.04), and 0.15 (0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three kennels and their average global methylation percentage either by LUMA or 5-mC. Conclusions: In this study we evaluated global methylation using LUMA and 5-mC and found no differences between kennels, though exposure to ambient PM_2.5 was significantly different between kennels. As more information becomes available regarding immunologically-related canine genes and functionally active promoter subunits, the utility of this surrogate could increase.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	489-494
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	512-513
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046
State	Published - Apr 5 2015

Funding

This work would not be possible without participation from the sled dog owners and handlers. A special thanks to veterinarians Carla Willetto and Cristina Hansen as well as laboratory technician Virginia Porter. Thanks also to Jocelyn Krebs former director AK INBRE and Cathy Griseto. Research reported in this publication was partially supported by the Alaska INBRE with funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20GM103395 as well as Montana COBRE 5P30GM103338 .

Funder number
P30GM103338, P20GM103395

Keywords

Alaska
Canine
Environment
Epigenetic
Methylation
Pm2.5
Sentinel
Wood smoke

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046

Cite this

@article{0b9cf6670eb941ed8865591b0b375d40,

title = "Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs: Potential applications for a sentinel model of human health",

abstract = "Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human populations. During the winter months in Fairbanks, Alaska, severe temperature inversions lead to elevated concentrations of ambient PM smaller than 2.5μm (PM2.5). Sled dogs represent an easily accessible environmentally exposed population that may yield findings informative for human health risk assessment. Objectives: In this pilot study, we evaluated whether ambient PM was associated with markers of global methylation in sled dogs. Methods: Kennels were strategically recruited to provide a wide PM2.5 exposure gradient for the Fairbanks area. Continuous monitoring of ambient PM2.5 was conducted at each kennel during the winter of 2012/13 using a DustTrak 8530. Dogs received a physical examination and assessment of standard hematology and clinical chemistries. Global methylation was determined using the LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and 5-Methycytosine (5-mC) quantification. Results: Three sled dog kennels (n\textasciitilde{}30dogs/kennel) were evaluated and sampled. The average PM2.5 concentrations measured for kennels A, B, and C were 90μg/m3, 48μg/m3, 16μg/m3 (p<0.0001), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by LUMA was 76.22 (1.85), 76.52 (1.82), and 76.72 (2.26), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by 5-mC was 0.16 (0.04), 0.15 (0.04), and 0.15 (0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three kennels and their average global methylation percentage either by LUMA or 5-mC. Conclusions: In this study we evaluated global methylation using LUMA and 5-mC and found no differences between kennels, though exposure to ambient PM2.5 was significantly different between kennels. As more information becomes available regarding immunologically-related canine genes and functionally active promoter subunits, the utility of this surrogate could increase.",

keywords = "Alaska, Canine, Environment, Epigenetic, Methylation, Pm2.5, Sentinel, Wood smoke",

author = "Luke Montrose and Noonan, \{Curtis W.\} and Cho, \{Yoon Hee\} and Joongwon Lee and John Harley and Todd O'Hara and Catherine Cahill and Ward, \{Tony J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2015",

month = apr,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046",

language = "English",

volume = "512-513",

pages = "489--494",

journal = "Science of the Total Environment",

issn = "0048-9697",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs

T2 - Potential applications for a sentinel model of human health

AU - Montrose, Luke

AU - Noonan, Curtis W.

AU - Cho, Yoon Hee

AU - Lee, Joongwon

AU - Harley, John

AU - O'Hara, Todd

AU - Cahill, Catherine

AU - Ward, Tony J.

PY - 2015/4/5

Y1 - 2015/4/5

N2 - Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human populations. During the winter months in Fairbanks, Alaska, severe temperature inversions lead to elevated concentrations of ambient PM smaller than 2.5μm (PM2.5). Sled dogs represent an easily accessible environmentally exposed population that may yield findings informative for human health risk assessment. Objectives: In this pilot study, we evaluated whether ambient PM was associated with markers of global methylation in sled dogs. Methods: Kennels were strategically recruited to provide a wide PM2.5 exposure gradient for the Fairbanks area. Continuous monitoring of ambient PM2.5 was conducted at each kennel during the winter of 2012/13 using a DustTrak 8530. Dogs received a physical examination and assessment of standard hematology and clinical chemistries. Global methylation was determined using the LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and 5-Methycytosine (5-mC) quantification. Results: Three sled dog kennels (n~30dogs/kennel) were evaluated and sampled. The average PM2.5 concentrations measured for kennels A, B, and C were 90μg/m3, 48μg/m3, 16μg/m3 (p<0.0001), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by LUMA was 76.22 (1.85), 76.52 (1.82), and 76.72 (2.26), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by 5-mC was 0.16 (0.04), 0.15 (0.04), and 0.15 (0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three kennels and their average global methylation percentage either by LUMA or 5-mC. Conclusions: In this study we evaluated global methylation using LUMA and 5-mC and found no differences between kennels, though exposure to ambient PM2.5 was significantly different between kennels. As more information becomes available regarding immunologically-related canine genes and functionally active promoter subunits, the utility of this surrogate could increase.

AB - Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human populations. During the winter months in Fairbanks, Alaska, severe temperature inversions lead to elevated concentrations of ambient PM smaller than 2.5μm (PM2.5). Sled dogs represent an easily accessible environmentally exposed population that may yield findings informative for human health risk assessment. Objectives: In this pilot study, we evaluated whether ambient PM was associated with markers of global methylation in sled dogs. Methods: Kennels were strategically recruited to provide a wide PM2.5 exposure gradient for the Fairbanks area. Continuous monitoring of ambient PM2.5 was conducted at each kennel during the winter of 2012/13 using a DustTrak 8530. Dogs received a physical examination and assessment of standard hematology and clinical chemistries. Global methylation was determined using the LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and 5-Methycytosine (5-mC) quantification. Results: Three sled dog kennels (n~30dogs/kennel) were evaluated and sampled. The average PM2.5 concentrations measured for kennels A, B, and C were 90μg/m3, 48μg/m3, 16μg/m3 (p<0.0001), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by LUMA was 76.22 (1.85), 76.52 (1.82), and 76.72 (2.26), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by 5-mC was 0.16 (0.04), 0.15 (0.04), and 0.15 (0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three kennels and their average global methylation percentage either by LUMA or 5-mC. Conclusions: In this study we evaluated global methylation using LUMA and 5-mC and found no differences between kennels, though exposure to ambient PM2.5 was significantly different between kennels. As more information becomes available regarding immunologically-related canine genes and functionally active promoter subunits, the utility of this surrogate could increase.

KW - Alaska

KW - Canine

KW - Environment

KW - Epigenetic

KW - Methylation

KW - Pm2.5

KW - Sentinel

KW - Wood smoke

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84921928647

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.046

M3 - Article

C2 - 25644845

AN - SCOPUS:84921928647

SN - 0048-9697

VL - 512-513

SP - 489

EP - 494

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

ER -

Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs: Potential applications for a sentinel model of human health

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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