Epigenetic findings in periodontitis in UK twins: a cross sectional study

Genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to periodontal disease, but the underlying susceptibility pathways are not fully understood. Epigenetic mechanisms are malleable regulators of gene function that can change in response to genetic and environmental stimuli, thereby providing a potential mechanism mediating risk effects in periodontitis. The aim of this study is to identify epigenetic changes across tissues that are associated with periodontal disease. Self-reported gum bleeding and tooth mobility were used as indicators of periodontal disease. DNA methylation profiles were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in whole blood, buccal, and adipose samples from predominantly older female twins (mean age 58) from the TwinsUK cohort. Epigenome-wide association scans (EWAS) of gum bleeding and tooth mobility were conducted in whole blood in 528 and 492 twins, respectively. Subsequently, 28 genomic signals were explored for phenotype- methylation associations in 41 (Tooth mobility) and 43 (Gum bleeding) buccal samples, and 501 (Tooth mobility) and 556 (Gum bleeding) adipose DNA samples.