Epigenetic Changes in Response to Tai Chi Practice: A Pilot Investigation of DNA Methylation Marks

Figure 1

Comparison of DNA methylation profiles against age for CpG dinucleotide marks that show a significant difference between the tai chi and control cohorts. ((a), i–iv) CpG marks Rad50_2, 17p_7, G6PD_6, and G6PD_7, showing normal DNA methylation losses in the control cohort (green) across age. Slower loss rates are seen for these marks in the tai chi cohort (red), by up to 16.03%, 4.63%, 5.09%, and 5.23%, respectively, compared to those of the control cohort, as shown by the tables below the graphs. ((b), i-ii) CpG marks Rad50_10 and Xp13_1, showing normal age-related DNA methylation gains in the control cohort (green). Slower gain rates are seen for these marks in the tai chi cohort (red), by up to 70.68% and 18.46%, respectively, compared to those of the control cohort, as shown by the tables below the graphs. Values in the tables represent average DNA methylation values for the age categories indicated, based on the linear model represented by the fitted line. “% difference” denotes the difference between the tai chi and control values expressed as a percentage of the control value. As methylation results were not available for all the participants for the individual CpG marks, the numbers of participants included in these analyses were less than the total and are shown in brackets.