Genome-wide DNA methylation pattern in whole blood of patients with coal-burning arsenic poisoning.

Exposure to coal-burning arsenic leads to an increased risk of cancer, multi-systems damage and chronic diseases, with DNA methylation one potential mechanism of arsenic toxicity. There are few studies on genome-wide methylation in the coal-burning arsenic poisoning population. Illumina 850 K methylation beadchip is the most suitable technology for DNA methylation of epigenome-wide association analysis. This study used 850 K to detect changes in Genome-wide DNA methylation in whole blood samples of 12 patients with coal-burning arsenic poisoning ( Arsenic poisoning group) and four healthy control participants (Healthy control group). There is clearly abnormal genome-wide DNA methylation in coal-burning arsenic poisoning, with 647 significantly different methylation positions, 524 different methylation regions and 335 significantly different methylation genes in arsenic poisoning patients compared with healthy controls. Further functional analysis of Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes (KEGG) found 592 GO items and 131 KEGG pathways between patients of coal-burning arsenic poisoning and healthy control. Then, analysis of gene degree and combined-score identified NAPRT1, NT5C3B, NEDD4L, SLC22A3 and RAB11B as target genes. Further validation by qRT-PCR indicates that mRNA expression of five genes changes significantly in the arsenic poisoning group (n = 72) compared to the healthy control group (n = 72). These results showed the genome-wide methylation pattern and highlighted five critical genes within the coal-burning arsenic poisoning population that involve Nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, Choline metabolism in cancer, and Ubiquitin mediated proteolysis. Next, the methylation profile of coal burning arsenic poisoning will be further excavation and the mechanism of coal burning arsenic poisoning will be further explored from five genes related pathways and functions.