Reduction in mitochondrial DNA methylation leads to compensatory increase in mitochondrial DNA content: novel blood-borne biomarkers for monitoring occupational noise
Background: Prolonged occupational noise exposure poses potential health risks, but its impact on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and methylation patterns remains unclear. Method: We recruited 306 factory workers, using average binaural high-frequency hearing thresholds from pure-tone audiometry to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ehpm/30/0/30_25-00006/_html/-char/en |
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| Summary: | Background: Prolonged occupational noise exposure poses potential health risks, but its impact on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and methylation patterns remains unclear. Method: We recruited 306 factory workers, using average binaural high-frequency hearing thresholds from pure-tone audiometry to assess noise exposure. MtDNA damage was evaluated through mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and lesion rate, and mtDNA methylation changes were identified via pyrophosphate sequencing. Results: There was a reduction in MT-RNR1 methylation of 4.52% (95% CI: −7.43% to −1.62%) among workers with abnormal hearing, whereas changes in the D-loop region were not statistically significant (β = −2.06%, 95% CI: −4.44% to 0.31%). MtDNAcn showed a negative association with MT-RNR1 methylation (β = −0.95, 95% CI: −1.23 to −0.66), while no significant link was found with D-loop methylation (β = −0.05, 95% CI: −0.58 to 0.48). Mediation analysis indicated a significant increase in mtDNAcn by 10.75 units (95% CI: 3.00 to 21.26) in those with abnormal hearing, with MT-RNR1 methylation mediating 35.9% of this effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that occupational noise exposure may influence compensatory increases in mtDNA content through altered MT-RNR1 methylation. |
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| ISSN: | 1342-078X 1347-4715 |