Genome-wide methylation profile of nasal polyps: relation to aspirin hypersensitivity in asthmatics

Abstract

Background: In addition to the dysregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA), aspirin acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) exerts effects on inflammation and immunity; however, many of these effects are unknown.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the methylation status of whole genome in blood and polyp tissues with and without aspirin hypersensitivity.

Methods: Genome-wide DNA methylation levels in nasal polyps and peripheral blood cells were examined by microarray analysis using five subjects with AIA and four subjects with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA).

Results: In the nasal polyps of the patients with AIA, hypermethylation was detected at 332 loci in 296 genes, while hypomethylation was detected at 158 loci in 141 genes. Gene ontologic and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that genes involved in lymphocyte proliferation, cell proliferation, leukocyte activation, cytokine biosynthesis, cytokine secretion, immune responses, inflammation, and immunoglobulin binding were hypomethylated, while genes involved in ectoderm development, hemostasis, wound healing, calcium ion binding, and oxidoreductase activity were hypermethylated. In the arachidonate pathway, PGDS, ALOX5AP, and LTB4R were hypomethylated, whereas PTGES was hypermethylated.

Conclusion: The nasal polyps of patients with AIA have characteristic methylation patterns affecting 337 genes. The genes and pathways identified in this study may be associated with the presence of aspirin hypersensitivity in asthmatics and are therefore attractive targets for future research.