Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor (AHRR) is a biomarker of ambient air pollution exposure and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2024 Jan:105:104344. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104344. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty subjects were recruited while undergoing cardiac catheterization. AHRR cg05575921 methylation was shown to be significantly decreased in ever smokers compared to never smokers (Mean± SD = 64.2 ± 17.2 vs 80.1 ± 11.1 respectively; P < 0.0001). In addition, higher urinary levels of 2-OHNAP and 2-OHFLU were significantly associated with more AHRR cg05575921 hypomethylation, even after correcting for smoking (β[95%CI]= -4.161[-7.553, -0.769]; P = 0.016 and -5.190[-9.761, -0.618]; P = 0.026, respectively) but not 1-OHPYR (β[95%CI]= -3.545 [-10.935, 3.845]; P = 0.345). Additionally, hypomethylation of AHRR ROI was significantly associated with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) after adjusting for smoking, age, sex, diabetes and dyslipidemia (OR [95%CI] = 1.024[1.000 - 1.048]; P = 0.046). Results of this study necessitate further validation to potentially consider clinical incorporation of AHRR methylation status as an early predictive biomarker for the potential association between ambient air pollution and CAD.

Keywords: AHRR; CAD; Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons; Smoking.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Biomarkers
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
  • AHRR protein, human
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors