Journal Article

DNA N6-methyladenine and ABCA1 methylation associations with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in people with HIV

Ramos, Carmen, Mata, Tatiana, Rodriguez-Torres, Diego, Pinilla, Inmaculada, Dalmau, Regina, Saiz-Medrano, Gabriel, Rodriguez-Centeno, Javier, Jiménez-González, María, Rodés, Berta, Esteban-Cantos, Andrés, Bernardino, Jose I., Estébanez, Miriam, Fernandez-Velilla, María

2025

Overview

ABCA1 methylation and N 6 -methyladenine DNA have been identified as epigenetic markers in coronary artery disease. We performed a cross-sectional exploratory study to analyze whether global DNA methylation and ABCA1 promoter methylation in monocytes are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic HIV individuals without cardiovascular disease. Coronary atherosclerosis was defined as a coronary plaque in at least one coronary segment. We included 27 individuals, 15 of whom had coronary atherosclerosis. ABCA1 DNA methylation was higher in participants with coronary atherosclerosis, with statistically significant differences at specific loci related to the activator protein-2 (AP-2) binding site. There were no differences in global levels of 5-methylcytosine and N 6 -methyladenine DNA between individuals with or without coronary atherosclerosis. ABCA1 methylation showed moderate correlations with both the Leaman score and coronary plaque volume, whereas global DNA N 6 -methyladenine had a negative moderate correlation with the segment severity score and LDL cholesterol. Among participants with coronary atherosclerosis, we found a strong negative correlation between ABCA1 methylation and total atheroma plaque volume, with certain loci (CpG 9 and 12) exhibiting very strong associations.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: ABCA1 methylation / ABCA1 protein / Adenine - analogs & derivatives / Adult / Analysis / Arteriosclerosis / Atherosclerosis / ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 - genetics / ATP-binding protein / Binding sites / Biomarkers / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cardiovascular disease / Cardiovascular diseases / Cholesterol / Coronary artery disease / Coronary Artery Disease - complications / Coronary Artery Disease - genetics / Coronary atherosclerosis / Coronary heart disease / Coronary vessels / CpG islands / Cross-Sectional Studies / DNA / DNA Methylation / Epigenesis, Genetic / Epigenetic inheritance / Epigenetics / Female / Gene expression / Gene Function / Heart diseases / HIV / HIV (Viruses) / HIV Infections - complications / HIV Infections - genetics / HIV patients / Human Genetics / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Low density lipoprotein / Low density lipoproteins / Male / Methylation / Middle Aged / Monocytes / N6-methyladenine / N6-methyladenosine / Plaque, Atherosclerotic - genetics / Promoter Regions, Genetic / Proteins / Statistical analysis / Transcription factors / Vein & artery diseases / White people