Smoking can affect your DNA for more than 30 years even after you quit

Smoking can affect your DNA for more than 30 years even after you quit
Smoking leaves its ‘footprint’ on the human genome in the form of DNA methylation -- a process by which cells control gene activity.

The most statistically significant methylation sites were linked to genes enriched for association with numerous diseases caused by cigarette smoking, such as cardiovascular diseasesand certain cancers. DNA methylation could be an important sign that reveals an individual’s smoking history, and could provide researchers with potential targets for new therapies, the researchers said. For the study, the team conducted a meta-analysis of DNA methylation sites across the human genome using blood samples taken from nearly 16,000 participants. The researchers compared DNA methylation sites in current and former smokers to those who never smoked. (Read: Moms-to-be, do not smoke. It can alter your baby’s DNA)

Smoking-associated DNA methylation sites were associated with more than 7,000 genes, or one-third of known human genes. The researchers suggest that some of these long-lasting methylation sites may be marking genes potentially important for former smokers who are still at increased risk of developing certain diseases.The discovery of smoking-related DNA methylation sites raises the possibility of developing biomarkers to evaluate a patient’s smoking history, as well as potentially developing new treatments targeted at these methylation sites. The results were published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics . (Read: 25 things that happen inside your body when you smoke)

Source: IANS

Image source: Shutterstock

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