Methylomic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for autism spectrum disorder and related behavioural traits

Mol Psychiatry. 2014 Apr;19(4):495-503. doi: 10.1038/mp.2013.41. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) defines a group of common, complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Although the aetiology of ASD has a strong genetic component, there is considerable monozygotic (MZ) twin discordance indicating a role for non-genetic factors. Because MZ twins share an identical DNA sequence, disease-discordant MZ twin pairs provide an ideal model for examining the contribution of environmentally driven epigenetic factors in disease. We performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in a sample of 50 MZ twin pairs (100 individuals) sampled from a representative population cohort that included twins discordant and concordant for ASD, ASD-associated traits and no autistic phenotype. Within-twin and between-group analyses identified numerous differentially methylated regions associated with ASD. In addition, we report significant correlations between DNA methylation and quantitatively measured autistic trait scores across our sample cohort. This study represents the first systematic epigenomic analyses of MZ twins discordant for ASD and implicates a role for altered DNA methylation in autism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / complications*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / genetics*
  • Cohort Studies
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Epigenomics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / etiology*
  • Mental Disorders / genetics
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Phenotype
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics
  • United Kingdom