We aimed to explore the age-dependent epigenetic variability on the X-chromosome with consideration of X-chromosome inactivation by applying a sex-stratified regression analysis to DNA methylation array data on X-linked CpGs in aging identical twins. We found 13 X-linked CpGs showing age-related significant increase in variability in males (FDR &lt; 0.05) but none in females. In females, we found a significantly higher proportion of CpGs showing increased variability with age among nominally significant (p &lt; 0.05) CpGs under inactivation, but not among CpGs escaping inactivation. Survival analysis showed a slight trend of correlation by directional change in the variable CpGs with mortality in males. Compared with females, the male X-chromosome can be more vulnerable to epigenetic instability during aging.

Qihua Tan

Hikmat Alo

Marianne Nygaard

Mette Sørensen

Alisa Saleh

Jonas Mengel-From

Kaare Christensen

Epigenomes

Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Variability on the X-Chromosome in Male and Female Twins

男性与女性双胞胎X染色体上年龄依赖的DNA甲基化变异性

Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Variability on the X-Chromosome in Male and Female Twins

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
GENETICS & HEREDITY	3