title: Evaluating the effect of ambient particulate pollution on DNA methylation in Alaskan sled dogs: potential applications for a sentinel model of human health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human populations. During the winter months in Fairbanks, Alaska, severe temperature inversions lead to elevated concentrations of ambient PM smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). Sled dogs represent an easily accessible environmentally exposed population that may yield findings informative for human health risk assessment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this pilot study, we evaluated whether ambient PM was associated with markers of global methylation in sled dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kennels were strategically recruited to provide a wide PM2.5 exposure gradient for the Fairbanks area. Continuous monitoring of ambient PM2.5 was conducted at each kennel during the winter of 2012/13 using a DustTrak 8530. Dogs received a physical examination and assessment of standard hematology and clinical chemistries. Global methylation was determined using the LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and 5-Methycytosine (5-mC) quantification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three sled dog kennels (n~30 dogs/kennel) were evaluated and sampled. The average PM2.5 concentrations measured for kennels A, B, and C were 90 μg/m(3), 48 μg/m(3), 16 μg/m(3) (p<0.0001), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by LUMA was 76.22 (1.85), 76.52 (1.82), and 76.72 (2.26), respectively. The average (standard deviation) global methylation percentage for each kennel measured by 5-mC was 0.16 (0.04), 0.15 (0.04), and 0.15 (0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three kennels and their average global methylation percentage either by LUMA or 5-mC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we evaluated global methylation using LUMA and 5-mC and found no differences between kennels, though exposure to ambient PM2.5 was significantly different between kennels. As more information becomes available regarding immunologically-related canine genes and functionally active promoter subunits, the utility of this surrogate could increase.
authors: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. Electronic address: luke.montrose@umontana.edu.
authors: Luke
authors: L
authors: Montrose
authors: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States.
authors: Curtis W
authors: CW
authors: Noonan
authors: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States.
authors: Yoon Hee
authors: YH
authors: Cho
authors: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States.
authors: Joongwon
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Harley
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States.
authors: Todd
authors: T
authors: O'Hara
authors: International Artic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Cahill
authors: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States.
authors: Tony J
authors: TJ
authors: Ward
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004285:Dogs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Alaska; Canine; Environment; Epigenetic; Methylation; Sentinel; Wood smoke; pm2.5
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