Cited by 567Epigenetics and DNA MethylationGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyAdvanced Causal Inference Techniques

Two-step epigenetic Mendelian randomization: a strategy for establishing the causal role of epigenetic processes in pathways to disease

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Relton, Caroline L, Davey Smith, George·2012·International Journal of Epidemiology

Abstract

The burgeoning interest in the field of epigenetics has precipitated the need to develop approaches to strengthen causal inference when considering the role of epigenetic mediators of environmental exposures on disease risk. Epigenetic markers, like any other molecular biomarker, are vulnerable to confounding and reverse causation. Here, we present a strategy, based on the well-established framework of Mendelian randomization, to interrogate the causal relationships between exposure, DNA methylation and outcome. The two-step approach first uses a genetic proxy for the exposure of interest to assess the causal relationship between exposure and methylation. A second step then utilizes a genetic proxy for DNA methylation to interrogate the causal relationship between DNA methylation and outcome. The rationale, origins, methodology, advantages and limitations of this novel strategy are presented.

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  • Mendelian randomization can be used to estimate the proportion of the effect of an exposure on an outcome that is mediated by an intermediate phenotype.

    “MR can be used to estimate the proportion of the effect of an exposure on an outcome that is mediated by an intermediate phenotype.104,105”

    From Mendelian randomization (2022) · cites this paper as [105]

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Waddington CH. The epigenotype. Endeavour 1942;1: 18-20. Reprinted in Int J Epidemiol 2012;41:10-13.
  2. Martin C, Zhang Y. Mechanisms of epigenetic inherit- ance. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2007;19:266-72.
  3. Charlesworth D, Charlesworth B. Not quite a revolution. The Guardian Review, 3 September 2011, p. 15. 44 Haldane J. Some principles of causal analysis in genetics. Erkenntnis 1936;6:346-57.
  4. Laird PW. Principles and challenges of genomewide DNA methylation analysis. Nat Rev Genet 2010;11:191-203.

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Authors
Relton, C. L., & Davey Smith, G.
Affiliations
University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author
Relton, Caroline L
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Published
2012-02
Volume
41
Issue
1
Pages
161-176
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
OpenAlex
W2102309722
Cited by
567
References
136
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 95 · 2024: 64 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 11
FWCI
9.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • European Commission
  • Directorate for Biological Sciences
  • Medical Research Council
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
Keywords
DNA methylation, causal inference, confounding, reverse causality, genetic proxies, environmental exposure, disease risk
MeSH terms
Disease, Environmental Exposure, Genetic Markers, Humans, RNA, Epidemiologic Research Design, DNA Methylation, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Epigenesis, Genetic, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Gene-Environment Interaction

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