The study included 856 Caucasian female individuals recruited from the TwinsUK Adult twin registry 17 (Supplementary Table 1). Punch biopsies (8mm) were taken from a photo-protected area adjacent and inferior to the umbilicus. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was dissected from each biopsy, weighted and immediately stored in liquid nitrogen. Similarly, the remaining skin tissue was weighted and stored in liquid nitrogen. Peripheral blood samples were collected and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) were generated by Epstein Barr Virus transformation of the B-lymphocyte component by the European Collection of Cell Cultures agency.
