American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2020
DNA Methylation is Predictive of Mortality in Current and Former Smokers.
Rationale: Smoking results in at least a decade lower life expectancy. Mortality among current smokers is two to three times as high as never smokers. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of the human genome that has been associated with both cigarette smoking and mortality. ⋯ We also observed associations between DNA methylation and gene expression for the PIK3CD sites. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify variable DNA methylation associated with all-cause mortality in smokers with and without COPD. Evaluating predictive epigenomic marks of smokers in peripheral blood may allow for targeted risk stratification and aid in delivery of future tailored therapeutic interventions.