Abstract | BACKGROUND: Although global hypomethylation of leukocyte DNA has been associated with an increased risk of several sites of cancer, including breast cancer, determinants of global methylation level among healthy individuals remain largely unexplored. Here, we examined whether postmenopausal endogenous sex hormones were associated with the global methylation level of leukocyte DNA. METHODS: RESULTS: Mean global methylation level (standard deviation) was 70.3% (3.1) and range was from 60.3% to 79.2%. Global methylation level decreased 0.27% per quartile category for estradiol and 0.39% per quartile category for estrone while it increased 0.41% per quartile category for bioavailable estradiol. However, we found no statistically significant association of any sex hormone level measured in the present study with global methylation level of leukocyte DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that endogenous sex hormones are not major determinants of the global methylation level of leukocyte DNA.
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Authors | Motoki Iwasaki, Hiroe Ono, Aya Kuchiba, Yoshio Kasuga, Shiro Yokoyama, Hiroshi Onuma, Hideki Nishimura, Ritsu Kusama, Teruhiko Yoshida, Shoichiro Tsugane |
Journal | BMC cancer
(BMC Cancer)
Vol. 12
Pg. 323
(Jul 29 2012)
ISSN: 1471-2407 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22839213
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Asian People
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- DNA Methylation
- Female
- Gonadal Steroid Hormones
(blood)
- Humans
- Japan
- Leukocytes
(metabolism)
- Middle Aged
- Postmenopause
(blood, metabolism)
- Risk Factors
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