Major surgery induces acute changes in measured DNA methylation associated with immune response pathways

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Authors
Knight, Bridget
Hannon, Eilis
Charity, John
Daniels, Ian R.
Burrage, Joe
Knox, O.
Crawford, B.
Smart, Neil J.
Mill, Jonathan
Journal
Scientific Reports
Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Rights
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CC0 1.0 Universal
Surgery is an invasive procedure evoking acute inflammatory and immune responses that can influence risk for postoperative complications including cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Although the specific mechanisms driving these responses have not been well-characterized, they are hypothesized to involve the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. We quantified genome-wide levels of DNA methylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) longitudinally collected from a cohort of elderly patients undergoing major surgery, comparing samples collected at baseline to those collected immediately post-operatively and at discharge from hospital. We identified acute changes in measured DNA methylation at sites annotated to immune system genes, paralleling changes in serum-levels of markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) measured in the same individuals. Many of the observed changes in measured DNA methylation were consistent across different types of major surgery, although there was notable heterogeneity between surgery types at certain loci. The acute changes in measured DNA methylation induced by surgery are relatively stable in the post-operative period, generally persisting until discharge from hospital. Our results highlight the dramatic alterations in gene regulation induced by invasive surgery, primarily reflecting upregulation of the immune system in response to trauma, wound healing and anaesthesia.
Citation
Sadahiro R et al. Major surgery induces acute changes in measured DNA methylation associated with immune response pathways. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 1;10(1):5743.
Note
This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.