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Nasal microbiome linked to small epigenetic differences in adolescents

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Research area:health-policy-services

What the study found

The study found that the nasal microbiome, meaning the community of microbes in the nose, was associated with small-to-modest differences in the nasal epigenome, the pattern of DNA methylation that can affect gene activity. It also found that some specific bacterial genera were linked to methylation at particular sites, and that greater Corynebacterium abundance was associated with lower nasal epigenetic aging.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that these findings support the idea that the nasal microbiome is associated with variation in the nasal epigenome. They also say future research is needed to examine how environmental exposures affect this relationship and how microbial and epigenetic variation may affect health in early life and across the life course.

What the researchers tested

The researchers analyzed cross-sectional associations in 372 adolescents from the Project Viva cohort, with a mean age of 13.0 years. They collected nasal swabs from the anterior nares, profiled the microbiome using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, grouped samples into six clusters, and measured nasal cell DNA methylation with the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip.

What worked and what didn't

In an epigenome-wide association study, microbiome cluster assignment was associated with DNA methylation after adjustment for sociodemographics, season, batch, and cell type composition. Methylation differences between clusters ranged from 0.20% to 12.45%, with a median of 0.95%; significant loci were near genes related to asthma, lung function, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and immune function. Among significant loci, individual bacterial genera, particularly Propionibacterium, were associated with methylation at 15 loci, and greater Corynebacterium abundance was associated with lower nasal epigenetic aging.

What to keep in mind

The study was cross-sectional, so it describes associations at one point in time rather than causation. The abstract does not provide detailed limitations beyond noting that future research is needed.

Key points

  • The nasal microbiome was associated with small-to-modest variation in the nasal epigenome.
  • DNA methylation differences between microbiome clusters ranged from 0.20% to 12.45%.
  • Significant methylation sites were near genes related to asthma, lung function, inflammation, immune function, and mitochondrial function.
  • Propionibacterium abundance was associated with methylation at 15 significant loci.
  • Greater Corynebacterium abundance was associated with lower nasal epigenetic aging.

Disclosure

Research title:
Nasal microbiome linked to small epigenetic differences in adolescents
Authors:
Anne K. Bozack, Javier Pérez-García, Sheryl Rifas-Shiman, Yanjiao Zhou, Joanne Sordillo, Jenny Jyoung Lee, Brent Coull, Peggy S. Lai, Emily Oken, Marie-France Hivert, Diane R. Gold, Andrés Felipe Millán Cardenas
Institutions:
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Ewha Womans University, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard University, Harvard University, Harvard University, Harvard University, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, New York University, Stanford Health Care, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford University, Stanford University, UConn Health, VA Boston Healthcare System
Publication date:
2026-02-27
DOI:
10.1186/s13148-026-02093-1
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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