DNAMethylAGE

An epigenetic age calculator based on DNA methylation information captured by SNaPshot method

Age estimation is a paramount issue in forensic contexts; however, it remains one of the most difficult tasks. Several approaches, including anthropological, chemical, odontological and biomolecular, have been continuously explored for age estimation purposes. In the most recent years, the epigenetic approach based on DNAm analysis has gained great emphasis as a new tool for estimating individual's age. Several studies (Zolotarenko et al., 2019; Hanafi et al., 2021; He et al., 2021) have developed tissue-specific age prediction models (APMs) mainly in blood, but also semen, buccal swabs, teeth, bones, hair samples, and multi-tissue APMs for different tissues together (Horvath, 2013; Alsaleh et al. 2017; Jung et al., 2019; Correia Dias et al., 2021).

In the past years, our group develop several tissue-specific and multi-tissue APMs focusing on DNAm levels of CpGs located at ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, TRIM59, EDARADD, PDE4C and C1orf132 genes captured by SNaPshot, Sanger sequencing and ddPCR methodologies for Portuguese people (Correia Dias et al. 2019, 2020a, 2020b, 2020c, 2021; Manco and Correia Dias, 2022). Here, a practical and useful online epigenetic age calculator, the so-called DNAMethylAGE, has been built on the basis of some of the previous developed tissue-specific and multi-tissue APMs using the SNaPshot methodology (Correia Dias et al., 2020a, 2020b, 2021). This calculator included DNAm levels of a total of 168 bisulfite-converted DNA samples (67 females, 101 males; aged 1-94 years) from blood, bones and teeth from Portuguese individuals. The model accuracy was calculated by a Mean Absolute Deviation between chronological and predicted ages (MAD) between 4.25 years and 7.18 years.

This simple and practical tool is freely available and can be used by everyone. The expert only needs to put the level of DNAm captured by SNaPshot methodology in each tissue and select the tissue. After that, the epigenetic calculator will allow to predict the age of the individual based on the tissue type in use. The DNAMethylAGE is a rapid way to predict the age of the individual based on DNAm information captured in blood, bones, teeth, or all these tissues together and can bring new insights for age assessment, showing the power of DNAm age in forensic contexts.

Helena Correia Dias, Ph.D

ORCID CIENCIA VITAE CIAS LFA

This research has funding by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (UIDB/00283/2020).
Helena Correia Dias had a PhD grant from FCT (SFRH/BD/117022/2016).

References

Zolotarenko AD, Chekalin EV, Bruskin SA. Modern Molecular Genetic Methods for Age Estimation in Forensics. Russ J Genet. 2019;55:1460–1471. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795419120147.
Hanafi MG, Soedarsono N, Auerkari EI. Biological age estimation using DNA methylation analysis: A systematic review. Sci Dent J. 2021;5:1-11.
He X, Liu J, Liu B, Shi J. The use of DNA methylation clock in aging research. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2021;246(4):436-446. doi: 10.1177/1535370220968802.
Horvath, S. DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types. Genome Biol. 2013, 14, R115.
Alsaleh, H.; McCallum, N.A.; Halligan, D.L.; Haddrill, P.R. A multi-tissue age prediction model based on DNA methylation analysis. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. Suppl. Ser. 2017, 6, e62–e64.
Jung, S.E.; Lim, S.M.; Hong, S.R.; Lee, E.H.; Shin, K.J.; Lee, H.Y. DNA methylation of the ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, C1orf132/MIR29B2C, and TRIM59 genes for age prediction from blood, saliva, and buccal swab samples. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2019, 38, 1–8.
Correia Dias H, Manco L, Corte Real F, Cunha, E. A Blood-Bone-Tooth Model for Age Prediction in Forensic Contexts. Biology 2021; 10, 1312. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10121312.
Correia Dias H, Cordeiro C, Pereira J, Pinto C, Corte Real F, Cunha E, Manco L. DNA methylation age estimation in blood samples of living and deceased individuals using a multiplex SNaPshot assay. Forensic Sci. Int. 2020a, 311, 110267, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110267.
Correia Dias H, Cordeiro C, Corte Real F, Cunha E, Manco L. Age estimation based on DNA methylation using blood samples from deceased individuals. J. Forensic Sci. 2019;1-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14185.
Correia Dias H, Cunha E, Corte Real F, Manco L. Age prediction in living: Forensic epigenetic age estimation based on blood samples. Leg. Med. 2020c; 47, 101763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101763.
Correia Dias H, Corte Real F, Cunha E, Manco L. DNA methylation age estimation from human bone and teeth. Aust. J. Forensic Sci. 2020b. https://doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2020.1805011.
Manco, L and Correia Dias, H. DNA methylation analysis of ELOVL2 gene using droplet digital PCR for age estimation purposes. Forensic Science International 2022; 333, 111206.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111206

Development and Infrastructe

This app is developed and maintained by Osteomics

All models are computed at the same time, correct result should be selected based on which markers are available and suitable for the adequate APM.

Reference data and models

Correia Dias H, Manco L, Corte Real F, Cunha, E. A Blood-Bone-Tooth Model for Age Prediction in Forensic Contexts. Biology 2021; 10, 1312. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10121312.

Correia Dias H, Cordeiro C, Pereira J, Pinto C, Corte Real F, Cunha E, Manco L. DNA methylation age estimation in blood samples of living and deceased individuals using a multiplex SNaPshot assay. Forensic Sci. Int. 2020a, 311, 110267, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110267.

Correia Dias H, Corte Real F, Cunha E, Manco L. DNA methylation age estimation from human bone and teeth. Aust. J. Forensic Sci. 2020b. https://doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2020.1805011.