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Shen J, Wang Q, Mao Y, Gao W, Duan S. Targeting the p53 signaling pathway in cancers: Molecular mechanisms and clinical studies. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e288. [PMID: 37256211 PMCID: PMC10225743 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor p53 can transcriptionally activate downstream genes in response to stress, and then regulate the cell cycle, DNA repair, metabolism, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and other biological responses. p53 has seven functional domains and 12 splice isoforms, and different domains and subtypes play different roles. The activation and inactivation of p53 are finely regulated and are associated with phosphorylation/acetylation modification and ubiquitination modification, respectively. Abnormal activation of p53 is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer. While targeted therapy of the p53 signaling pathway is still in its early stages and only a few drugs or treatments have entered clinical trials, the development of new drugs and ongoing clinical trials are expected to lead to the widespread use of p53 signaling-targeted therapy in cancer treatment in the future. TRIAP1 is a novel p53 downstream inhibitor of apoptosis. TRIAP1 is the homolog of yeast mitochondrial intermembrane protein MDM35, which can play a tumor-promoting role by blocking the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. This work provides a systematic overview of recent basic research and clinical progress in the p53 signaling pathway and proposes that TRIAP1 is an important therapeutic target downstream of p53 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinze Shen
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Qurui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yunan Mao
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Wei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
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Lezhava T, Khavinson V, Jokhadze T, Buadze T, Monaselidze J, Sigua T, Gaiozishvili M, Tsuleiskiri T. Epigenetic Activation of Ribosomal Cystrons in Chromatids of Acrocentric Chromosome 15th in Ductal Breast Cancer. Int J Pept Res Ther 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-023-10489-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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3
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Lezhava T, Buadze T, Mikaia N, Jokhadze T, Sigua T, Gaiozishvili M, Melkadze T. Epigenetic Activation of Ribosomal Cistrons in Chromatids of Acrocentric Chromosome 15 in Lung Cancer. CYTOL GENET+ 2021. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452721050042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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4
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Cervena K, Siskova A, Buchler T, Vodicka P, Vymetalkova V. Methylation-Based Therapies for Colorectal Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:E1540. [PMID: 32599894 PMCID: PMC7349319 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC) is caused by the gradual long-term accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic changes. Recently, epigenetic alterations have been included in the classification of the CRC molecular subtype, and this points out their prognostic impact. As epigenetic modifications are reversible, they may represent relevant therapeutic targets. DNA methylation, catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), regulates gene expression. For many years, the deregulation of DNA methylation has been considered to play a substantial part in CRC etiology and evolution. Despite considerable advances in CRC treatment, patient therapy response persists as limited, and their profit from systemic therapies are often hampered by the introduction of chemoresistance. In addition, inter-individual changes in therapy response in CRC patients can arise from their specific (epi)genetic compositions. In this review article, we summarize the options of CRC treatment based on DNA methylation status for their predictive value. This review also includes the therapy outcomes based on the patient's methylation status in CRC patients. In addition, the current challenge of research is to develop therapeutic inhibitors of DNMT. Based on the essential role of DNA methylation in CRC development, the application of DNMT inhibitors was recently proposed for the treatment of CRC patients, especially in patients with DNA hypermethylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Cervena
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1083, 14 200 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (A.S.); (P.V.)
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Siskova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1083, 14 200 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (A.S.); (P.V.)
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Buchler
- Department of Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Thomayer Hospital, Videnska 800, 140 59 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Pavel Vodicka
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1083, 14 200 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (A.S.); (P.V.)
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Vymetalkova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1083, 14 200 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (A.S.); (P.V.)
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
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Lezhava T, Buadze T, Monaselidze J, Jokhadze T, Sigua N, Jangulashvili N, Gaiozishvili M, Koridze M, Zosidze N, Rukhadze M. Epigenetic Changes of Activity of the Ribosomal Cistrons of Human Acrocentric Chromatids in Fetuses, Middle-aged (22–45 years) and Old Individuals (80–106 years). CYTOL GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.3103/s009545272003007x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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6
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Normalization of Epigenetic Change in the Genome by Peptide Bioregulator (Ala–Glu–Asp–Gly) in Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Int J Pept Res Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-018-9699-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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7
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Romanov GA, Sukhoverov VS. Arginine CGA codons as a source of nonsense mutations: a possible role in multivariant gene expression, control of mRNA quality, and aging. Mol Genet Genomics 2017; 292:1013-1026. [DOI: 10.1007/s00438-017-1328-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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8
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Jimenez-Pacheco A, Franco JM, Lopez S, Gomez-Zumaquero JM, Magdalena Leal-Lasarte M, Caballero-Hernandez DE, Cejudo-Guillén M, Pozo D. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 978:255-275. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Lardenoije R, Iatrou A, Kenis G, Kompotis K, Steinbusch HWM, Mastroeni D, Coleman P, Lemere CA, Hof PR, van den Hove DLA, Rutten BPF. The epigenetics of aging and neurodegeneration. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 131:21-64. [PMID: 26072273 PMCID: PMC6477921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is a quickly growing field encompassing mechanisms regulating gene expression that do not involve changes in the genotype. Epigenetics is of increasing relevance to neuroscience, with epigenetic mechanisms being implicated in brain development and neuronal differentiation, as well as in more dynamic processes related to cognition. Epigenetic regulation covers multiple levels of gene expression; from direct modifications of the DNA and histone tails, regulating the level of transcription, to interactions with messenger RNAs, regulating the level of translation. Importantly, epigenetic dysregulation currently garners much attention as a pivotal player in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, where it may mediate interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, or directly interact with disease-specific pathological factors. We review current knowledge about the major epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and DNA demethylation, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs, as well as the involvement of these mechanisms in normal aging and in the pathophysiology of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we examine the current state of epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies for these diseases, which either aim to restore the epigenetic homeostasis or skew it to a favorable direction to counter disease pathology. Finally, methodological challenges of epigenetic investigations and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lardenoije
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Artemis Iatrou
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gunter Kenis
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Kompotis
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Genopode Building, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland
| | - Harry W M Steinbusch
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Diego Mastroeni
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Paul Coleman
- L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Cynthia A Lemere
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel L A van den Hove
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Fuechsleinstrasse 15, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Bart P F Rutten
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Chromatin methylation and cardiovascular aging. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2015; 83:21-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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11
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Romanov GA, Sukhoverov VS, Vanyushin BF. Epigenetic mutagenesis as program of age-related protein dysfunction and aging. Russ J Dev Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s106236041502006x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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Lezhava T, Monaselidze J, Jokhadze T, Gaiozishvili M. Epigenetic Regulation of “Aged” Heterochromatin by Peptide Bioregulator Cortagen. Int J Pept Res Ther 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-014-9443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Beerman I, Rossi DJ. Epigenetic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell aging. Exp Cell Res 2014; 329:192-9. [PMID: 25261778 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2014.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Aging is invariably associated with alterations of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment, including loss of functional capacity, altered clonal composition, and changes in lineage contribution. Although accumulation of DNA damage occurs during HSC aging, it is unlikely such consistent aging phenotypes could be solely attributed to changes in DNA integrity. Another mechanism by which heritable traits could contribute to the changes in the functional potential of aged HSCs is through alterations in the epigenetic landscape of adult stem cells. Indeed, recent studies on hematopoietic stem cells have suggested that altered epigenetic profiles are associated with HSC aging and play a key role in modulating the functional potential of HSCs at different stages during ontogeny. Even small changes of the epigenetic landscape can lead to robustly altered expression patterns, either directly by loss of regulatory control or through indirect, additive effects, ultimately leading to transcriptional changes of the stem cells. Potential drivers of such changes in the epigenetic landscape of aged HSCs include proliferative history, DNA damage, and deregulation of key epigenetic enzymes and complexes. This review will focus largely on the two most characterized epigenetic marks - DNA methylation and histone modifications - but will also discuss the potential role of non-coding RNAs in regulating HSC function during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Beerman
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children׳s Hospital, MA 02116, USA.
| | - Derrick J Rossi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children׳s Hospital, MA 02116, USA
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Coppieters N, Dieriks BV, Lill C, Faull RLM, Curtis MA, Dragunow M. Global changes in DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in Alzheimer's disease human brain. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 35:1334-44. [PMID: 24387984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine [5mC]) is one of several epigenetic markers altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. More recently, attention has been given to DNA hydroxymethylation (5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]), the oxidized form of 5mC. Whereas 5mC is generally associated with the inhibition of gene expression, 5hmC has been associated with increased gene expression and is involved in cellular processes such as differentiation, development, and aging. Recent findings point toward a role for 5hmC in the development of diseases including AD, potentially opening new pathways for treating AD through correcting methylation and hydroxymethylation alterations. In the present study, levels of 5mC and 5hmC were investigated in the human middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and middle temporal gyrus (MTG) by immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity for 5mC and 5hmC were significantly increased in AD MFG (N = 13) and MTG (N = 29) compared with age-matched controls (MFG, N = 13 and MTG, N = 29). Global levels of 5mC and 5hmC positively correlated with each other and with markers of AD including amyloid beta, tau, and ubiquitin loads. Our results showed a global hypermethylation in the AD brain and revealed that levels of 5hmC were also significantly increased in AD MFG and MTG with no apparent influence of gender, age, postmortem delay, or tissue storage time. Using double-fluorescent immunolabeling, we found that in control and AD brains, levels of 5mC and 5hmC were low in astrocytes and microglia but were elevated in neurons. In addition, our colocalization study showed that within the same nuclei, 5mC and 5hmC mostly do not coexist. The present study clearly demonstrates the involvement of 5mC and 5hmC in AD emphasizing the need for future studies determining the exact time frame of these epigenetic changes during the progression of AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Coppieters
- Departments of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Gravida National Centre for Growth and Development, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Birger V Dieriks
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Anatomy with Radiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Claire Lill
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Anatomy with Radiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Anatomy with Radiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Anatomy with Radiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mike Dragunow
- Departments of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Gravida National Centre for Growth and Development, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Oh JH, Gertych A, Tajbakhsh J. Nuclear DNA methylation and chromatin condensation phenotypes are distinct between normally proliferating/aging, rapidly growing/immortal, and senescent cells. Oncotarget 2013; 4:474-93. [PMID: 23562889 PMCID: PMC3717309 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports on probing the utility of in situ chromatin texture features such as nuclear DNA methylation and chromatin condensation patterns — visualized by fluorescent staining and evaluated by dedicated three-dimensional (3D) quantitative and high-throughput cell-by-cell image analysis — in assessing the proliferative capacity, i.e. growth behavior of cells: to provide a more dynamic picture of a cell population with potential implications in basic science, cancer diagnostics/prognostics and therapeutic drug development. Two types of primary cells and four different cancer cell lines were propagated and subjected to cell-counting, flow cytometry, confocal imaging, and 3D image analysis at various points in culture. Additionally a subset of primary and cancer cells was accelerated into senescence by oxidative stress. DNA methylation and chromatin condensation levels decreased with declining doubling times when primary cells aged in culture with the lowest levels reached at the stage of proliferative senescence. In comparison, immortal cancer cells with constant but higher doubling times mostly displayed lower and constant levels of the two in situ-derived features. However, stress-induced senescent primary and cancer cells showed similar levels of these features compared with primary cells that had reached natural growth arrest. With regards to global DNA methylation and chromatin condensation levels, aggressively growing cancer cells seem to take an intermediate level between normally proliferating and senescent cells. Thus, normal cells apparently reach cancer-cell equivalent stages of the two parameters at some point in aging, which might challenge phenotypic distinction between these two types of cells. Companion high-resolution molecular profiling could provide information on possible underlying differences that would explain benign versus malign cell growth behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ho Oh
- Translational Cytomics Group, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Martin LJ, Wong M. Aberrant regulation of DNA methylation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a new target of disease mechanisms. Neurotherapeutics 2013; 10:722-33. [PMID: 23900692 PMCID: PMC3805862 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-013-0205-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the third most common adult-onset neurodegenerative disease. A diagnosis is fatal owing to degeneration of motor neurons in brain and spinal cord that control swallowing, breathing, and movement. ALS can be inherited, but most cases are not associated with a family history of the disease. The mechanisms causing motor neuron death in ALS are still unknown. Given the suspected complex interplay between multiple genes, the environment, metabolism, and lifestyle in the pathogenesis of ALS, we have hypothesized that the mechanisms of disease in ALS involve epigenetic contributions that can drive motor neuron degeneration. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for gene regulation engaged by DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt)-catalyzed methyl group transfer to carbon-5 in cytosine residues in gene regulatory promoter and nonpromoter regions. Recent genome-wide analyses have found differential gene methylation in human ALS. Neuropathologic assessments have revealed that motor neurons in human ALS show significant abnormalities in Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and 5-methylcytosine. Similar changes are seen in mice with motor neuron degeneration, and Dnmt3a was found abundantly at synapses and in mitochondria. During apoptosis of cultured motor neuron-like cells, Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a protein levels increase, and 5-methylcytosine accumulates. Enforced expression of Dnmt3a, but not Dnmt1, induces degeneration of cultured neurons. Truncation mutation of the Dnmt3a catalytic domain and Dnmt3a RNAi blocks apoptosis of cultured neurons. Inhibition of Dnmt catalytic activity with small molecules RG108 and procainamide protects motor neurons from excessive DNA methylation and apoptosis in cell culture and in a mouse model of ALS. Thus, motor neurons can engage epigenetic mechanisms to cause their degeneration, involving Dnmts and increased DNA methylation. Aberrant DNA methylation in vulnerable cells is a new direction for discovering mechanisms of ALS pathogenesis that could be relevant to new disease target identification and therapies for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee J Martin
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2196, USA,
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Evaluation of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine stability in hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed DNA by HPLC-UV. Bioanalysis 2012; 4:367-72. [PMID: 22394137 DOI: 10.4155/bio.11.335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the determination of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-MedC) in various biological samples is gaining increasing scientific interest, there are no data available regarding its stability. RESULTS We have currently evaluated the stability of 5-MedC and 2'-deoxycytidine (dC) at -20°C, both in hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed calf thymus DNA (CT DNA), as well as following repetitive freeze-thaw cycles. HPLC-UV was used for the accurate determination of the two 2'-deoxynucleosides. Statistical evaluation of the results revealed that 5-MedC and dC were stable in hydrolyzed CT DNA for at least 7 days and in nonhydrolyzed CT DNA for at least 65 days, when these were stored at -20°C. Furthermore, both 2'-deoxynucleosides were stable for at least three repetitive freeze-thaw cycles. CONCLUSION By using HPLC-UV, we have evaluated the stability of 5-MedC and dC under storage conditions and repetitive freeze-thaw cycles. Our results are informative about the way samples should be handled and stored in epigenetic studies.
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Lezhava T, Monaselidze J, Jokhadze T, Gorgoshidze M, Kiladze M, Gaiozishvili M. Remodeling of heterochromatin induced by heavy metals in extreme old age. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2011; 33:433-8. [PMID: 20865337 PMCID: PMC3168599 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-010-9185-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The levels of chromosome instability and heat absorption of chromatin have been studied in cultured lymphocytes derived from blood of 80-93- and 18-30-year-old individuals, under the effect of heavy metal Cu(II) and Cd(II) salts. The analysis of the results obtained indicates that 50 μM Cu(II) induced a significantly higher level of cells with chromosome aberrations in old donors (13.8 ± 1.5% vs control, 3.8 ± 1.7%), whereas treatment with 100 μM Cd(II) did not induce any changes in the background index. Analysis of the lymphocyte melting curves showed that Cu(II) ions caused more effective condensation of heterochromatin in old healthy individuals compared with young donors, which was expressed by the increase of the T (m) of elderly chromatin by ~3°C compared with the norm. Treatment of lymphocyte chromatin of old individuals with 100 μM Cd(II) caused decondensation (deheterochromatinization) of both the facultative and constitutive domains of heterochromatin. The deheterochromatinization T (m) was decreased by ~3-3.5°C compared with the T (m) observed for young individuals. Thus, the chromatin of cultured lymphocytes from the old-aged individuals underwent modification under the influence of copper and cadmium salts. Cu(II) caused additional heterochromatinization of heterochromatin, and Cd(II) caused deheterochromatinization of facultative and constitutive heterochromatin. Our data may be important as new information on the remodeling of constitutive and facultative heterochromatin induced by heavy metals in aging, aging pathology, and pathology linked with metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teimuraz Lezhava
- Department of Genetics, Iv. Javakishvili Tbilisi State University, Chavchavadze ave.1, Tbilisi, Georgia.
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Krauss V, Eisenhardt C, Unger T. The genome of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata is strongly methylated within genes and repetitive DNA. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7223. [PMID: 19787064 PMCID: PMC2747282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2009] [Accepted: 09/05/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytosine DNA methylation has been detected in many eukaryotic organisms and has been shown to play an important role in development and disease of vertebrates including humans. Molecularly, DNA methylation appears to be involved in the suppression of initiation or of elongation of transcription. Resulting organismal functions are suggested to be the regulation of gene silencing, the suppression of transposon activity and the suppression of initiation of transcription within genes. However, some data concerning the distribution of methylcytosine in insect species appear to contradict such roles. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS By comparison of MspI and HpaII restriction patterns in genomic DNA of several insects we show that stick insects (Phasmatodea) have highly methylated genomes. We isolated methylated DNA fragments from the Vietnamese Walking Stick Medauroidea extradentata (formerly known as Baculum extradentatum) and demonstrated that most of the corresponding sequences are repetitive. Bisulfite sequencing of one of these fragments and of parts of conserved protein-coding genes revealed a methylcytosine content of 12.6%, mostly found at CpG, but also at CpT and CpA dinucleotides. Corresponding depletions of CpG and enrichments of TpG and CpA dinucleotides in some highly conserved protein-coding genes of Medauroidea reach a similar degree as in vertebrates and show that CpG methylation has occurred in the germline of these insects. CONCLUSIONS Using four different methods, we demonstrate that the genome of Medauroidea extradentata is strongly methylated. Both repetitive DNA and coding genes appear to contain high levels of methylcytosines. These results argue for similar functions of DNA methylation in stick insects as those already known for vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veiko Krauss
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology II, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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