Cell-free DNA Methylation Patterns in Aging and Their Association with Inflamm-aging

Background: Liquid biopsies analyzing cell-free DNA methylation in plasma offer a non-invasive diagnostic for diseases, with aging biomarker potential underexplored. Methods: Utilizing enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq), this study assessed cfDNA methylation patterns in aging with blood from 35 healthy individuals. Results: It found aging signatures, including higher cfDNA levels and variations in fragment sizes, plus over 2 million age-related differentially methylated CpG sites. A biological age predictive model based on 41 CpG sites showed a strong correlation with chronological age, verified by two datasets. Age-specific epigenetic shifts linked to inflammation were revealed through differentially methylated regions profiling and Olink proteomics. Conclusion: These findings indicate cfDNA methylation as a potential biomarker for aging, and it might exacerbate immunoinflammatory reactivity in older individuals. Overall design: The study utilized enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq) to explore the cfDNA methylation profiles and patterns in aging, aiming to determine cfDNA methylation's potential as an aging marker. The present study involved blood samples collected from 35 healthy individuals.