Analysis of the circulating methylome in 155 IBD-discordant twin pairs from UK and Scandinavia highlights differential variance and association with active inflammation

Abstract

Background: Consistent alterations in DNA methylation across the genome have been well-characterised in inception cohorts of North European patients with inflammatory bowel disease [1-3]; these data implicate inherited determinants, active inflammation and the exposome in shaping the methylome. We have recruited a unique group of 155 twin pairs discordant for IBD to allow exploration of the interplay between these factors.