Abstract summary 

We conducted a pilot epigenome-wide association study of women from Tutsi ethnicity exposed to the genocide while pregnant and their resulting offspring, and a comparison group of women who were pregnant at the time of the genocide but living outside of Rwanda. Fifty-nine leukocyte-derived DNA samples survived quality control: 33 mothers (20 exposed, 13 unexposed) and 26 offspring (16 exposed, 10 unexposed). Twenty-four significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified in mothers and 16 in children. genocide exposure was associated with CpGs in three of the 24 DMRs: ,  and , with higher DNA methylation in exposed versus unexposed offspring. Of note, and show significant correlation between brain and blood DNA methylation within individuals, suggesting these peripherally derived signals of genocide exposure may have relevance to the brain.

Authors & Co-authors:  Musanabaganwa Clarisse C Wani Agaz H AH Donglasan Janelle J Fatumo Segun S Jansen Stefan S Mutabaruka Jean J Rutembesa Eugene E Uwineza Annette A Hermans Erno J EJ Roozendaal Benno B Wildman Derek E DE Mutesa Leon L Uddin Monica M

Study Outcome 

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