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BackgroundSeason of birth influences allergy risk; however, the biological mechanisms underlying this observation are unclear. The environment affects DNA methylation, with potentially long-lasting effects on gene expression and disease. This study examined whether DNA methylation could underlie the association between season of birth and allergy.MethodsIn a subset of 18-year-old participants from the Isle of Wight (IoW) birth cohort (n = 367), the risks of birth season on allergic outcomes were estimated. Whole blood epigenome-wide DNA methylation was measured, and season-associated CpGs detected using a training-and-testing-based technique. Validation method examined the 8-year-old Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) cohort. The relationships between DNA methylation, season of birth and allergy were examined. CpGs were analysed in IoW third-generation cohort newborns.ResultsAutumn birth increased risk of eczema, relative to spring birth. Methylation at 92 CpGs showed association with season of birth in the epigenome-wide association study. In validation, significantly more CpGs had the same directionality than expected by chance, and four were statistically significant. Season-associated methylation was enriched among networks relating to development, the cell cycle and apoptosis. Twenty CpGs were nominally associated with allergic outcomes. Two CpGs were marginally on the causal pathway to allergy. Season-associated methylation was largely absent in newborns, suggesting it arises post-natally.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that DNA methylation in adulthood is associated with season of birth, supporting the hypothesis that DNA methylation could mechanistically underlie the effect of season of birth on allergy, although other mechanisms are also likely to be involved.

The leptin gene (LEP) plays a regulatory role in satiety, inflammation, and allergy. Prior findings linking leptin to asthma motivated us to investigate whether DNA methylation (DNA-M) of CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) sites in concert with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of LEP can explain the risk of asthma and lung function. Methylation of CpG sites was assessed using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 beadchip in blood samples collected from 10- and 18-year-old boys and girls from the Isle of Wight (IOW) birth cohort (UK). Four LEP SNPs were genotyped. Linear and log linear models were used for the analysis, adjusting for false discovery rate (FDR). The analyses were repeated in the BAMSE cohort (Sweden). In the IOW study, the interaction of cg00666422 and rs11763517 (CT vs TT and CC) was associated with FEV1 (FDR-adjusted p-value: 0.03), FEV1/FVC ratio (FDR- adjusted p-value: 0.0096), and FEF25-75% (FDR-adjusted p-value: 0.00048) such that they decreased with increasing DNA-M. The interaction of the same CpG-SNP pair was also associated with increased risk of asthma at age 18. We replicated the findings for FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% in a smaller sample of 34 participants at age 10. Regarding the BAMSE cohort, although, the interaction of cg00666422 and rs11763517 on lung function were not significant, the direction of the effect was the same as in IOW cohort. Thus, penetrance of LEP genotype seems to be modified by methylation at cg00666422 and is linked to airway obstruction and asthma.

Organisations are implementing joint information systems with suppliers, customers, competitors and banks to achieve a business vision of better relationships, reduced cost, improved product and service quality, reduced order cycle and time to market. The generic name for these information systems is Inter-Organisational (Information) Systems (lOSs) . This paper analyses the set of lOSs used to manage logistics in a vertical supply chain through the exchange of computer data between separate organisations which manage successive stages of product manufacture, distribution and retail. The implementation of lOSs for the purpose of logistics management is of strategic importance because it affects the design of business relationships. The classical (adversarial) trading relationship is changing towards a more cooperative and integrative one. In addition to the trend of closer relationships, with the advent of lOSs there are new emerging forms of association. The primary research method is detailed case analysis and three case vignettes are presented. The information flows and loci of decision making are mapped for each case. Based on this, generic models are proposed which describe the new forms of association and outline the organisational changes implicit in each model.