High-Resolution Epigenome Analysis In Nasal Samples Derived From Children With Respiratory Viral Infections Reveals Striking Changes Upon Sars-Cov-2 Infection

Authors

Konner Winkley, Children's Mercy Hospital
Boryana Koseva, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Dithi Banerjee, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Warren A. Cheung, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Rebecca L. Biswell, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Daniel A. Louiselle, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Nyshele L. Posey, Children's Mercy Kansas City
Margaret Gibson, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Ferdaus Hassan, Children's Mercy Hospital
Rangaraj Selvarangan, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Tomi Pastinen, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
Elin Grundberg, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow

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Publication Date

5-2021

Abstract

DNA methylation patterns of the human genome can be modified by environmental stimuli and provide dense information on gene regulatory circuitries. We studied genome-wide DNA methylation in nasal samples from infants (<6 months) applying whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to characterize epigenome response to 10 different respiratory viral infections including SARS-CoV-2. We identified virus-specific differentially methylated regions (vDMR) with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and SARS-CoV-2 followed by Influenza B (Flu B) causing the weakest vs. strongest epigenome response with 496 vs. 78541 and 14361 vDMR, respectively. We found a strong replication rate of FluB (52%) and SARS-CoV-2 (42%) vDMR in independent samples indicating robust epigenome perturbation upon infection. Among the FluB and SARS-CoV-2 vDMRs, around 70% were hypomethylated and significantly enriched among epithelial cell-specific regulatory elements whereas the hypermethylated vDMRs for these viruses mapped more frequently to immune cell regulatory elements, especially those of the myeloid lineage. The hypermethylated vDMRs were also enriched among genes and genetic loci in monocyte activation pathways and monocyte count from large GWAS. Finally, we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing characterization of nasal mucosa from children positive for FluB and SARS-CoV-2 infections to functionally analyze the epigenome perturbations. Using these data, we support the trends identified in methylation data and highlights the important role for monocytes. All together, we find evidence indicating genetic predisposition to innate immune response upon a respiratory viral infection. Our genome-wide monitoring of infant viral response provides first catalogue of associated host regulatory elements. Assessing epigenetic variation in individual patients may reveal evidence for viral triggers of childhood disease.

Document Type

Poster

Recommended Citation

Winkley, Konner; Koseva, Boryana; Banerjee, Dithi; Cheung, Warren A.; Biswell, Rebecca L.; Louiselle, Daniel A.; Posey, Nyshele L.; Gibson, Margaret; Hassan, Ferdaus; Selvarangan, Rangaraj; Pastinen, Tomi; and Grundberg, Elin, "High-Resolution Epigenome Analysis In Nasal Samples Derived From Children With Respiratory Viral Infections Reveals Striking Changes Upon Sars-Cov-2 Infection" (2021). Research at Children's Mercy Month 2021. 1.
https://scholarlyexchange.childrensmercy.org/research_month2021/1