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Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics
Published in: Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Biomarkers | Review

DNA methylation biomarkers of future health outcomes in children

Authors: Shivanthan Shanthikumar, Melanie R. Neeland, Jovana Maksimovic, Sarath C. Ranganathan, Richard Saffery

Published in: Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Biomarkers which predict future health outcomes are key to the goals of precision health. Such biomarkers do not have to be involved in the causal pathway of a disease, and their performance is best assessed using statistical tests of clinical performance and evaluation of net health impact. DNA methylation is the most commonly studied epigenetic process and represents a potential biomarker of future health outcomes. We review 25 studies in non-oncological paediatric conditions where DNA methylation biomarkers of future health outcomes are assessed. Whilst a number of positive findings have been described, the body of evidence is severely limited by issues with outcome measures, tissue-specific samples, accounting for sample cell type heterogeneity, lack of appropriate statistical testing, small effect sizes, limited validation, and no assessment of net health impact. Future studies should concentrate on careful study design to overcome these issues, and integration of DNA methylation data with other ‘omic’, clinical, and environmental data to generate the most clinically useful biomarkers of paediatric disease.
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Metadata
Title
DNA methylation biomarkers of future health outcomes in children
Authors
Shivanthan Shanthikumar
Melanie R. Neeland
Jovana Maksimovic
Sarath C. Ranganathan
Richard Saffery
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2194-7791
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40348-020-00099-0

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