Clarisse Musanabaganwa1,2,3,4, Agaz H Wani3, Janelle Donglasan3, Segun Fatumo5,6, Stefan Jansen7, Jean Mutabaruka2, Eugene Rutembesa2, Annette Uwineza1, Erno J Hermans4, Benno Roozendaal4, Derek E Wildman3, Leon Mutesa1, Monica Uddin3. 1. Centre for Human Genetics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. 2. Department of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda. 3. Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. 4. Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center - Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 5. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 6. Uganda Medical Informatics Centre-MRC/UVRI, Entebbe, Uganda. 7. Directorate of Research & Innovation, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Abstract
Aim & methods: We conducted a pilot epigenome-wide association study of women from Tutsi ethnicity exposed to the genocide while pregnant and their resulting offspring, and a comparison group of women who were pregnant at the time of the genocide but living outside of Rwanda. Results: Fifty-nine leukocyte-derived DNA samples survived quality control: 33 mothers (20 exposed, 13 unexposed) and 26 offspring (16 exposed, 10 unexposed). Twenty-four significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified in mothers and 16 in children. Conclusions: In utero genocide exposure was associated with CpGs in three of the 24 DMRs: BCOR, PRDM8 and VWDE, with higher DNA methylation in exposed versus unexposed offspring. Of note, BCOR and VWDE show significant correlation between brain and blood DNA methylation within individuals, suggesting these peripherally derived signals of genocide exposure may have relevance to the brain.
Aim & methods: We conducted a pilot epigenome-wide association study of women from Tutsi ethnicity exposed to the genocide while pregnant and their resulting offspring, and a comparison group of women who were pregnant at the time of the genocide but living outside of Rwanda. Results: Fifty-nine leukocyte-derived DNA samples survived quality control: 33 mothers (20 exposed, 13 unexposed) and 26 offspring (16 exposed, 10 unexposed). Twenty-four significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified in mothers and 16 in children. Conclusions: In utero genocide exposure was associated with CpGs in three of the 24 DMRs: BCOR, PRDM8 and VWDE, with higher DNA methylation in exposed versus unexposed offspring. Of note, BCOR and VWDE show significant correlation between brain and blood DNA methylation within individuals, suggesting these peripherally derived signals of genocide exposure may have relevance to the brain.
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