Cited by 1,208Epigenetics and DNA MethylationGene expression and cancer classificationGenetic Syndromes and Imprinting

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 23 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 15 of the 21 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

A data-driven approach to preprocessing Illumina 450K methylation array data

Open access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As the most stable and experimentally accessible epigenetic mark, DNA methylation is of great interest to the research community. The landscape of DNA methylation across tissues, through development and in disease pathogenesis is not yet well characterized. Thus there is a need for rapid and cost effective methods for assessing genome-wide levels of DNA methylation. The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 (450K) BeadChip is a very useful addition to the available methods for DNA methylation analysis but its complex design, incorporating two different assay methods, requires careful consideration. Accordingly, several normalization schemes have been published. We have taken advantage of known DNA methylation patterns associated with genomic imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), in addition to the performance of SNP genotyping assays present on the array, to derive three independent metrics which we use to test alternative schemes of correction and normalization. These metrics also have potential utility as quality scores for datasets. RESULTS: The standard index of DNA methylation at any specific CpG site is β = M/(M + U + 100) where M and U are methylated and unmethylated signal intensities, respectively. Betas (βs) calculated from raw signal intensities (the default GenomeStudio behavior) perform well, but using 11 methylomic datasets we demonstrate that quantile normalization methods produce marked improvement, even in highly consistent data, by all three metrics. The commonly used procedure of normalizing betas is inferior to the separate normalization of M and U, and it is also advantageous to normalize Type I and Type II assays separately. More elaborate manipulation of quantiles proves to be counterproductive. CONCLUSIONS: Careful selection of preprocessing steps can minimize variance and thus improve statistical power, especially for the detection of the small absolute DNA methylation changes likely associated with complex disease phenotypes. For the convenience of the research community we have created a user-friendly R software package called wateRmelon, downloadable from bioConductor, compatible with the existing methylumi, minfi and IMA packages, that allows others to utilize the same normalization methods and data quality tests on 450K data.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Using 11 Illumina 450K datasets (total n=696), the authors derive three performance metrics from imprinted DMRs, SNP probes, and X-chromosome inactivation and use them to rank 15 preprocessing/normalization methods. They find that dasen—background adjustment plus separate between-array quantile normalization of methylated and unmethylated Type I and Type II intensities—performs best overall.

Key findings

  • Across 11 datasets and 15 methods, dasen had the best average rank (2; Type I 2.5, Type II 1.5), followed by danet (3.5) and daten1 (4); raw averaged 8.75, betaqn 13.5, Fuks 10.75, Tost 13.5, and SWAN 12.5.
  • Normalizing M and U separately outperformed normalizing β (naten vs betaqn), and separate Type I/Type II normalization improved metrics; more elaborate segmented QN schemes (Tost, SWAN) were counterproductive.
  • In Cohort 1Ai, a sex-difference t-test at Bonferroni-corrected p<0.05 yielded 9,796 significant probes, of which 8,969 were X-chromosome loci, recovering 80% of X-chromosome probes; dasen added 296 (3%) sex differences compared with raw.
  • The metrics used 237 iDMR probes expected to have β=0.5, 65 SNP probes, and 11,232 X-chromosome features.

Methods

  • 11 450K datasets (total n=696) from post-mortem brain regions and whole blood; 500 ng genomic DNA was bisulfite-treated, run on Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChips, and raw signal intensities were extracted with GenomeStudio without background correction or normalization.
  • Three performance metrics were calculated: DMRSE from 237 imprinted DMR probes expected at β=0.5; GCOSE from 65 SNP probes partitioned by k-means into three genotype clusters; and Seabird = 1−AUC from ROC analysis predicting X-chromosome location using sex-difference p-values.
  • Fifteen preprocessing methods were ranked by mean ranks across metrics and datasets for Type I and Type II probes separately; analyses used R 2.15.0 and Bioconductor 2.12, with functions packaged as wateRmelon, and data deposited in GEO under GSE43414.

Limitations

  • The authors state that the three metrics may miss some aspect of performance; the datasets analyzed were relatively homogeneous brain or whole blood, multi-tissue datasets were not extensively addressed, and more heterogeneous datasets may require different handling.
  • The authors also state that only QN-based methods were tested, and a different approach such as scaling could possibly work better.
  • Evident from the text: less than 1% of individual samples were excluded as technical failures based on atypical raw intensity distribution and poor correlation with other samples, and the ranking relies on array-derived natural controls rather than external spike-in validation.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1471-2164-14-293

Cites

23 of 23 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Example of density distribution of β values profiled using Type I and Type II probes.
Figure 1 Example of density distribution of β values profiled using Type I and Type II probes.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Density plots of the β values generated from the raw and dasen preprocessing methods for Type I and II probes. Plots represent the loci investigated in each of the three performance tests: a DMRSE, b GCOSE, and c Seabird. Black line=raw, red line=dasen.
Figure 2 Density plots of the β values generated from the raw and dasen preprocessing methods for Type I and II probes. Plots represent the loci investigated in each of the three performance tests: a DMRSE, b GCOSE, and c Seabird. Black line=raw, red line=dasen.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Results of the performance tests for Cohort 1C. All values range between 0 and 1. Lower values are indicative of a more sensitive preprocessing method. :a) DMRSE (x10-3), b) GCOSE (x10-4) and c) Seabird (x10-2). Type I probes are denoted by circles and Type II probes by triangles.
Figure 3 Results of the performance tests for Cohort 1C. All values range between 0 and 1. Lower values are indicative of a more sensitive preprocessing method. :a) DMRSE (x10-3), b) GCOSE (x10-4) and c) Seabird (x10-2). Type I probes are denoted by circles and Type II probes by triangles.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

26 Own result · 24 Own interpretation · 7 Supported · 6 Partly supported · 4 Own method · 2 Couldn’t confirm · 2 Sources not found · 2 No full text of the sources · 2 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 58 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 14
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 6
17 of 17
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Small absolute DNA methylation changes are likely associated with complex disease phenotypes.

    “especially for the detection of the small absolute DNA methylation changes likely associated with complex disease phenotypes”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Attempts to correct background by subtracting estimates derived from control probes introduce another source of variance.

    “attempts to correct them, for example by subtraction of estimates derived from control probes, are undesirable because they introduce another source of variance”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The suitability of quantile normalization for DNA methylation data has been assumed from gene expression experience, but there has been little systematic testing.

    “The suitability of QN for DNA methylation data has been assumed based on experience in the analysis of gene expression data, but there has been little systematic testing.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 450K BeadChip contains 65 control probes that assay highly polymorphic SNPs rather than DNA methylation.

    “The 450K BeadChip also features 65 control probes which assay highly-polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rather than DNA methylation.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    GenomeStudio default settings perform no normalization.

    “the manufacturer’s GenomeStudio software calculates βs from raw intensities and under default settings performs no normalization”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In females, one copy of the X chromosome is predominantly inactivated and largely methylated.

    “In females, one copy of the X-chromosome is predominantly inactivated and largely methylated.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    65 probes on the 450K BeadChip assay highly polymorphic SNPs rather than CpG sites.

    “There are 65 probes on the 450K BeadChip which assay highly polymorphic SNPs rather than CpG sites.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    QN has the potential to impose large changes in parts of a distribution with few members.

    “the known potential of QN to impose large changes in those parts of a distribution with few members”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    M and U distributions differ.

    “M and U distributions differ”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Dye bias variation is a potential problem with Type II assays.

    “which is a potential problem with Type II assays”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The inactive X-chromosome in females is hypermethylated.

    “The inactive X-chromosome in females is hypermethylated”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 11,232 X-chromosome features annotated for the array show a distinctive β distribution centred on approximately 0.5, compared with the biphasic distribution of autosomal probes.

    “the 11,232 X-chromosome features annotated for the array show a distinctive β value distribution, once again centred on approximately 0.5, compared to the biphasic distribution of autosomal probes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The three performance metrics (DMRSE, GCOSE, Seabird) are valid indicators of preprocessing method performance.

    “The test metrics were subsequently used to quantitatively determine the best performing preprocessing method”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Type II probes represent 72% of the probes on the array.

    “which represent 72% of the probes on the array”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The array features that assay known sites of differential methylation or genotype are valid indicators of normalization performance.

    “We then evaluated each method using features on the array that assay known sites of differential methylation or genotype.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Quantile normalization is strongly favoured by consensus in the field.

    “Although there is a strong consensus in favour of this method, it is possible that a different approach based, for example, on scaling, could possibly work better.”
16 of 16

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Citations

Cites

Show all 24 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Davis S, Du P, Bilke S, Triche JrT, Bootwalla M: Methylumi: Handle Illumina Methylation Data. 2012, R package version 2.2.0, .

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Metadata

Authors
Pidsley, R., Y Wong, C. C., Volta, M., Lunnon, K., Mill, J., & Schalkwyk, L. C.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Schalkwyk, Leonard C
Venue
BMC Genomics
Published
2013-05-01
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
293-293
ISSN
1471-2164 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2119883345
Cited by
1,143
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 74 · 2025: 97 · 2024: 102 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 141 · 2020: 94 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 76 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 71 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 7
FWCI
22.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • BMC Genomics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Access at Essex (University of Essex) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • American Asthma Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG036039)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene expression and cancer classification
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
Keywords
DNA methylation, quantile normalization, genomic imprinting, X chromosome inactivation, data quality metrics, watermelon, R package, statistical power
MeSH terms
Humans, Statistics as Topic, Genomic Imprinting, DNA Methylation, Computational Biology, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Chromosomes, Human, X

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