Bollati Valentina, Rota Federica, Dioni Laura, Favero Chiara, Iodice Simona, Gallazzi Marta, Spinazzè Andrea, Fanti Giacomo, Campagnolo Davide, Nardi Tiago, Biganzoli Davide, Dariol Eva, Matsagani Rachele, Hoxha Mirjam, Monti Paola, Albetti Benedetta, Tarantini Letizia, Barbuto Davide, Luconi Ester, Marano Giuseppe, Biganzoli Giacomo, Biciuffi Roberta, Boracchi Patrizia, Cavallo Domenico M, Guerrieri Pilar M, Mosca Fabio, Gustincich Stefano, Sanesi Giovanni, Ferrari Luca, Carugno Michele, Fustinoni Silvia, Pesatori Angela Cecilia, Pandolfini Luca, Miragoli Michele, Cattaneo Andrea, Biganzoli Elia
EPIGET Lab -Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, "Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2023-2027", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
INES (Institute of Epigenetics for Smiles), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 9;20(7):e0326467. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326467. eCollection 2025.
The concept of the exposome encompasses all the factors influencing human health throughout the life course. The exposome induces epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, which influence gene expression and impact overall health. Several recent studies have explored how repetitive elements (REs) in the genome can be activated in response to environmental stimuli. However, most of these investigations have assumed that altered RE methylation is always detrimental to individual health. The MAMELI project proposes an alternative hypothesis: that some REs are plastic entities capable of responding physiologically to environmental stimuli without compromising genome stability. This hypothesis suggests that the ability of DNA to adapt to environmental triggers could be monitored and used as an indicator of health resilience. To test this hypothesis, the MAMELI project will enroll 6,200 participants from the city of Legnano (Italy) and will be conducted in three main phases: i) A total of 200 healthy participants will undergo DNA methylation analysis through third-generation sequencing at two time points: T0 (baseline) and T1 (6 months after T0). This phase aims to identify a set of REs ("differential REs") whose methylation changes in response to the exposome without affecting genome stability; ii) This phase will include 2,700 subjects (the original 200 participants from the discovery phase plus 2,500 additional subjects). The goal will be to develop a predictive algorithm (the MAMELI algorithm) that links the exposome to RE methylation status, creating a "RE methylation signature" reflecting the environmental impact on DNA methylation; iii) In this phase, the MAMELI algorithm will be applied to a separate cohort of 3,500 participants to compare the measured RE methylation signature with values predicted by the algorithm. Additionally, an intervention study will be embedded within the cohort to assess the reversibility of RE methylation following lifestyle changes. The MAMELI project offers a novel perspective in the field of epigenetics and environmental health, demonstrating how the epigenome can act as a sensor for environmental changes and how this interaction can be harnessed for disease prevention. If validated, the MAMELI algorithm could become a powerful tool for identifying individuals at risk and developing personalized interventions to improve global health outcomes.
暴露组的概念涵盖了一生中影响人类健康的所有因素。暴露组会引发表观遗传变化,如DNA甲基化,这会影响基因表达并对整体健康产生影响。最近的几项研究探讨了基因组中的重复元件(REs)如何能够响应环境刺激而被激活。然而,这些研究大多假定RE甲基化的改变总是对个体健康有害。MAMELI项目提出了另一种假设:一些REs是具有可塑性的实体,能够在不损害基因组稳定性的情况下对环境刺激做出生理反应。这一假设表明,DNA适应环境触发因素的能力可以被监测,并用作健康恢复力的指标。为了验证这一假设,MAMELI项目将招募来自意大利莱尼亚诺市的6200名参与者,并分三个主要阶段进行:i)总共200名健康参与者将在两个时间点通过第三代测序进行DNA甲基化分析:T0(基线)和T1(T0后6个月)。这一阶段旨在识别一组REs(“差异REs”),其甲基化会响应暴露组而发生变化,同时不影响基因组稳定性;ii)这一阶段将包括2700名受试者(发现阶段的最初200名参与者加上另外2500名受试者)。目标是开发一种预测算法(MAMELI算法),将暴露组与RE甲基化状态联系起来,创建一个反映环境对DNA甲基化影响的“RE甲基化特征”;iii)在这一阶段,MAMELI算法将应用于另一组3500名参与者,以比较测量到的RE甲基化特征与算法预测的值。此外,一项干预研究将纳入该队列,以评估生活方式改变后RE甲基化的可逆性。MAMELI项目在表观遗传学和环境健康领域提供了一个新的视角,展示了表观基因组如何能够作为环境变化的传感器,以及如何利用这种相互作用进行疾病预防。如果得到验证,MAMELI算法可能会成为识别高危个体和制定个性化干预措施以改善全球健康结果的有力工具。