Widespread seasonal gene expression reveals annual differences in human immunity and physiology

Xaquin Castro Dopico (), Marina Evangelou, Ricardo C. Ferreira, Hui Guo, Marcin L. Pekalski, Deborah J. Smyth, Nicholas Cooper, Oliver S. Burren, Anthony J. Fulford, Branwen J. Hennig, Andrew M. Prentice, Anette-G. Ziegler, Ezio Bonifacio, Chris Wallace and John A. Todd ()
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Xaquin Castro Dopico: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Marina Evangelou: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Ricardo C. Ferreira: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Hui Guo: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Marcin L. Pekalski: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Deborah J. Smyth: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Nicholas Cooper: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Oliver S. Burren: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
Anthony J. Fulford: MRC International Nutrition Group at MRC Unit The Gambia & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Branwen J. Hennig: MRC International Nutrition Group at MRC Unit The Gambia & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Andrew M. Prentice: MRC International Nutrition Group at MRC Unit The Gambia & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Anette-G. Ziegler: Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München
Ezio Bonifacio: CRTD—DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse
Chris Wallace: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge
John A. Todd: JDRF/Wellcome Trust Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Seasonal variations are rarely considered a contributing component to human tissue function or health, although many diseases and physiological process display annual periodicities. Here we find more than 4,000 protein-coding mRNAs in white blood cells and adipose tissue to have seasonal expression profiles, with inverted patterns observed between Europe and Oceania. We also find the cellular composition of blood to vary by season, and these changes, which differ between the United Kingdom and The Gambia, could explain the gene expression periodicity. With regards to tissue function, the immune system has a profound pro-inflammatory transcriptomic profile during European winter, with increased levels of soluble IL-6 receptor and C-reactive protein, risk biomarkers for cardiovascular, psychiatric and autoimmune diseases that have peak incidences in winter. Circannual rhythms thus require further exploration as contributors to various aspects of human physiology and disease.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8000

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