Integrative epigenome profiling of 47XXY provides insights into whole genomic DNA hypermethylation and active chromatin accessibility

Abstract

Klinefelter syndrome (KS, 47XXY) is a disorder characterized by sex chromosomal aneuploidy, which may lead to changes in epigenetic regulations of gene expression. To define epigenetic architectures in 47XXY, we annotated DNA methylation in euploid males (46XY) and females (46XX), and 47XXY individuals using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and integrated chromatin accessbilty, and detected abnormal hypermethylation in 47XXY. Furthermore, we detected altered chromatin accessibility in 47XXY, in particular in chromosome X, using Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) in cultured amniotic cells. Our results construct the whole genome-wide DNA methylation map in 47XXY, and provide new insights into the early epigenomic dysregulation resulting from an extra chromosome X in 47XXY.