title: Early life lead exposure causes gender-specific changes in the DNA methylation profile of DNA extracted from dried blood spots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that early life lead (Pb) exposure associated DNA methylation (5 mC) changes are dependent on the sex of the child and can serve as biomarkers for Pb exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, we measured the 5mC profiles of DNA extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) in a cohort of 43 children (25 males and 18 females; ages from 3 months to 5 years) from Detroit. Result & Discussion: We found that the effect of Pb-exposure on the 5-mC profiles can be separated into three subtypes: affected methylation loci which are conserved irrespective of the sex of the child (conserved); affected methylation loci unique to males (male-specific); and affected methylation loci unique to females (female-specific).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.|Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Room 4000, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Arko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, 3750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heredia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Senut
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, 3750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.|CS Mott Center for Human Growth & Development, Wayne State University, 275 E Hancock St, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, 3750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Land
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Room 4000, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Union College, 807 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hollacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, 3750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Mary O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Dereski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.|Union College, 807 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ruden
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA methylation; blood lead levels; differential methylation; dried blood spots; epigenetics; gene specific; lead; whole blood