Newborn DNA methylation and asthma acquisition across adolescence and early adulthood

Background Little is known about the association of newborn DNA methylation (DNAm) with asthma acquisition across adolescence and early adult life. Objective We aim to identify epigenetic biomarkers in newborns for asthma acquisition during adolescence or young adulthood. Methods The Isle of Wight Birth Cohort (IOWBC) (n = 1456) data at ages 10, 18 and 26 years were assessed. To screen cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine site (CpGs) potentially associated with asthma acquisition, at the genome scale, we examined differentially methylated regions (DMR) using dmrff R package and individual CpG sites using linear regression on such associations. For CpGs that passed screening, we examined their enrichment in biological pathways using their mapping genes and tested their associations with asthma acquisitions using logistic regressions. Findings in IOWBC were tested in an independent cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Results In total, 2636 unique CpGs passed screening, based on which we identified one biological pathway linked to asthma acquisition during adolescence in females (FDR adjusted p‐value = .003 in IOWBC). Via logistic regressions, for females, four CpGs were shown to be associated with asthma acquisition during adolescence, and another four CpGs with asthma acquisition in young adulthood (FDR adjusted p‐value