Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33818919›Full record

ArticleMolecular genetics & genomic medicine2021

DNA methylation of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha gene is associated with specific blood fatty acid levels in a gender-specific manner.

Bethan Hussey, Richard P Steel, Boakye Gyimah, James C Reynolds, Ian M Taylor, Martin R Lindley, Sarabjit Mastana

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular genetics & genomic medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Adrenic acid: A promising biomarker and therapeutic target (Review).International journal of molecular medicine · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Bethan HusseyTranslational Chemical Biology (TCB) Research Group, Loughborough, University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1827-5489
Richard P SteelSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5633-3259
Boakye GyimahTranslational Chemical Biology (TCB) Research Group, Loughborough, University, Loughborough, UK.
James C ReynoldsTranslational Chemical Biology (TCB) Research Group, Loughborough, University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1176-3030
Ian M TaylorSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6291-4025
Martin R LindleyTranslational Chemical Biology (TCB) Research Group, Loughborough, University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7686-9421
Sarabjit MastanaTranslational Chemical Biology (TCB) Research Group, Loughborough, University, Loughborough, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9553-4886
Loughborough University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFatty acids, specifically polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an important role in inflammation and its resolution, however, their interaction with the epigenome is relatively unexplored. Here we investigate the relationship between circulating blood fatty acids and the DNA methylation of the cytokine encoding gene tumour necrosis factor (TNF, OMIM 191160).

methodsUsing a cross-sectional study approach, we collected blood samples from adults (N=88 (30 males, 58 females); 18-74 years old) for DNA methylation pyrosequencing analysis at four sites in TNF exon 1 and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry analysis of the fatty acid profile of dried blood spots (DBS).

resultsMethylation levels of TNF exon 1 are significantly correlated with specific fatty acids in a gender-specific manner. In the males the PUFAs Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Arachidonic Acid (AA) were positively associated with TNF methylation, as was the saturated fatty acid (SFA) Stearic Acid; in contrast, mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) had a negative association. In the females, omega-6 PUFA γ-Linolenic acid (GLA) was negatively correlated with TNF methylation; Adrenic acid and Eicosadienoic Acid were positively correlated with TNF methylation.

conclusionThese results suggest that one way that fatty acids interact with the inflammation is through altered methylation profiles of cytokine genes; thus, providing potential therapeutic targets for nutritional and health interventions.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationGenetic Association StudiesAdolescentAdultAgedBase SequenceCpG IslandsDried Blood Spot TestingEpigenesis, GeneticEpigenomicsFatty AcidsFemaleGas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryHumansMaleMiddle AgedFatty AcidsTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaarachidonic acidDNA methylationdocosahexaenoic Aciddry blood spotsinflammationTNF

Identifiers

PMID33818919
PMCPMC8683629
OpenAlexW3143322638

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.