Genetic and methylation variation in the CYP2B6 gene is related to circulating p,p′-dde levels in a population-based sample

OBJECTIVES: Since the metabolism of the organochlorine pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is not fully known in humans, we evaluated if circulating levels of a major breakdown product of DDT, p,p′-DDE, were related to genome-wide genetic and methylation variation in a population-based sample. METHODS: In the population-based Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study (1016 subjects all aged 70), circulating levels of p,p′-DDE were analyzed by high-resolution chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Genetic variants were genotyped and imputed (1000 Genomes reference, March 2012 release). Methylation sites were assayed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array in whole blood. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach was applied. RESULTS: Evidence for genome-wide significant association with p,p′-DDE levels was observed only for a locus at chromosome 19 corresponding to the CYP2B6 gene (lead SNP rs7260538). Subjects being homozygote for the G allele showed a median level of 472 ng/g lipid, while the corresponding level for those being homozygote for the T allele was 192 ng/g lipid (p = 1.5 × 10(− 31)). An analysis conditioned on the lead SNP disclosed a distinct signal in the same gene (rs7255374, position chr19:41520351; p = 2.2 × 10(− 8)). A whole-genome methylation analysis showed one significant relationship vs. p,p′-DDE levels (p = 6.2 × 10(− 9)) located 7 kb downstream the CYP2B6 gene (cg27089200, position chr19:41531976). This CpG-site was also related to the lead SNP (p = 3.8 × 10(− 35)), but mediated only 4% of the effect of the lead SNP on p,p′-DDE levels. CONCLUSION: Circulating levels of p,p′-DDE were related to genetic variation in the CYP2B6 gene in the general elderly population. DNA methylation in this gene is not closely linked to the p,p′-DDE levels.