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Morita S, Horii T, Hatada I. Optimized Protocol for the Regulation of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Using Modified dCas9-SunTag Platforms. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:155-165. [PMID: 39012594 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation, one of the most studied epigenetic modifications, regulates many biological processes. Dysregulation of DNA methylation is implicated in the etiology of several diseases, such as cancer and imprinting diseases. Accordingly, technologies designed to manipulate DNA methylation at specific loci are considered worthwhile and many epigenome editing technologies have been developed, which were based on ZF, TALE, and CRISPR-dCas9. Here, we describe a protocol for the application of a modified dCas9-SunTag system, which increased the efficiency of targeted demethylation and gene activation at specific DNA loci. The original SunTag system consists of 10 copies of the GCN4 peptide separated by 5-amino-acid linkers. To achieve more efficient recruitment of an anti-GCN4 scFv fused to the ten-eleven (TET) 1 hydroxylase, an enzyme that demethylates DNA, we changed the linker length to 22 amino acids. Moreover, we describe the co-recruitment of TET1 and VP64 for efficient gene activation. Since we showed the manipulation of DNA methylation at specific loci and gene activation, its application could lead to its future use in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiyo Morita
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Takuro Horii
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.
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2
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Mat Lazim N, Yousaf A, Abusalah MAH, Sulong S, Mohd Ismail ZI, Mohamud R, Abu-Harirah HA, AlRamadneh TN, Hassan R, Abdullah B. The Epigenesis of Salivary Glands Carcinoma: From Field Cancerization to Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072111. [PMID: 37046772 PMCID: PMC10093474 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) are a diverse collection of malignant tumors with marked differences in biological activity, clinical presentation and microscopic appearance. Although the etiology is varied, secondary radiation, oncogenic viruses as well as chromosomal rearrangements have all been linked to the formation of SGCs. Epigenetic modifications may also contribute to the genesis and progression of SGCs. Epigenetic modifications are any heritable changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in DNA sequence. It is now widely accepted that epigenetics plays an important role in SGCs development. A basic epigenetic process that has been linked to a variety of pathological as well as physiological conditions including cancer formation, is DNA methylation. Transcriptional repression is caused by CpG islands hypermethylation at gene promoters, whereas hypomethylation causes overexpression of a gene. Epigenetic changes in SGCs have been identified, and they have been linked to the genesis, progression as well as prognosis of these neoplasms. Thus, we conduct a thorough evaluation of the currently known evidence on the involvement of epigenetic processes in SGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norhafiza Mat Lazim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Anam Yousaf
- Department of Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Mai Abdel Haleem Abusalah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zarqa University, Al-Zarqa 13132, Jordan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Sarina Sulong
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Human Genome Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Zul Izhar Mohd Ismail
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Rohimah Mohamud
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Hashem A. Abu-Harirah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zarqa University, Al-Zarqa 13132, Jordan
| | - Tareq Nayef AlRamadneh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zarqa University, Al-Zarqa 13132, Jordan
| | - Rosline Hassan
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Baharudin Abdullah
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Hospital USM, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
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3
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Graf M, Interlandi M, Moreno N, Holdhof D, Göbel C, Melcher V, Mertins J, Albert TK, Kastrati D, Alfert A, Holsten T, de Faria F, Meisterernst M, Rossig C, Warmuth-Metz M, Nowak J, Meyer Zu Hörste G, Mayère C, Nef S, Johann P, Frühwald MC, Dugas M, Schüller U, Kerl K. Single-cell transcriptomics identifies potential cells of origin of MYC rhabdoid tumors. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1544. [PMID: 35318328 PMCID: PMC8941154 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare and highly aggressive pediatric neoplasms. Their epigenetically-driven intertumoral heterogeneity is well described; however, the cellular origin of RT remains an enigma. Here, we establish and characterize different genetically engineered mouse models driven under the control of distinct promoters and being active in early progenitor cell types with diverse embryonic onsets. From all models only Sox2-positive progenitor cells give rise to murine RT. Using single-cell analyses, we identify distinct cells of origin for the SHH and MYC subgroups of RT, rooting in early stages of embryogenesis. Intra- and extracranial MYC tumors harbor common genetic programs and potentially originate from fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs). Using PGC specific Smarcb1 knockout mouse models we validate that MYC RT originate from these progenitor cells. We uncover an epigenetic imbalance in MYC tumors compared to PGCs being sustained by epigenetically-driven subpopulations. Importantly, treatments with the DNA demethylating agent decitabine successfully impair tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our work sheds light on the origin of RT and supports the clinical relevance of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors against this disease. Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are aggressive paediatric cancers with yet unknown cells of origin. Here, the authors establish genetically engineered mouse models of RT and, using single-cell RNA-seq and epigenomics, identify potential cells of origin for the SHH and MYC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Graf
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Marta Interlandi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Natalia Moreno
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Dörthe Holdhof
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Göbel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Melcher
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Julius Mertins
- Department of Neurology, Schlosspark-Klinik, 14059, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas K Albert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Dennis Kastrati
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Amelie Alfert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Till Holsten
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Flavia de Faria
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Brasìlia, 70684-831, Brasìlia, Brazil
| | - Michael Meisterernst
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Monika Warmuth-Metz
- Neuroradiological Reference Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Nowak
- Neuroradiological Reference Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,SRH Poliklinik Gera GmbH, Radiological Practice Gotha, Gotha, Germany
| | - Gerd Meyer Zu Hörste
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Chloe Mayère
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.,iGE3, Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.,iGE3, Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Johann
- Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Augsburg, 86156, Augsburg, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael C Frühwald
- Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Augsburg, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Martin Dugas
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.,Research Institute Children's Cancer Center, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kornelius Kerl
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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Davaa G, Hong JY, Kim TU, Lee SJ, Kim SY, Hong K, Hyun JK. Exercise Ameliorates Spinal Cord Injury by Changing DNA Methylation. Cells 2021; 10:143. [PMID: 33445717 PMCID: PMC7828206 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise training is a traditional method to maximize remaining function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), but the exact mechanism by which exercise promotes recovery after SCI has not been identified; whether exercise truly has a beneficial effect on SCI also remains unclear. Previously, we showed that epigenetic changes in the brain motor cortex occur after SCI and that a treatment leading to epigenetic modulation effectively promotes functional recovery after SCI. We aimed to determine how exercise induces functional improvement in rats subjected to SCI and whether epigenetic changes are engaged in the effects of exercise. A spinal cord contusion model was established in rats, which were then subjected to treadmill exercise for 12 weeks. We found that the size of the lesion cavity and the number of macrophages were decreased more in the exercise group than in the control group after 12 weeks of injury. Immunofluorescence and DNA dot blot analysis revealed that levels of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in the brain motor cortex were increased after exercise. Accordingly, the expression of ten-eleven translocation (Tet) family members (Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3) in the brain motor cortex also elevated. However, no macrophage polarization was induced by exercise. Locomotor function, including Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) and ladder scores, also improved in the exercise group compared to the control group. We concluded that treadmill exercise facilitates functional recovery in rats with SCI, and mechanistically epigenetic changes in the brain motor cortex may contribute to exercise-induced improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganchimeg Davaa
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 FOUR NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (G.D.); (J.Y.H.)
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Jin Young Hong
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 FOUR NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (G.D.); (J.Y.H.)
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Tae Uk Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (T.U.K.); (S.J.L.); (S.Y.K.)
| | - Seong Jae Lee
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (T.U.K.); (S.J.L.); (S.Y.K.)
| | - Seo Young Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (T.U.K.); (S.J.L.); (S.Y.K.)
| | - Kwonho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Jung Keun Hyun
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 FOUR NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (G.D.); (J.Y.H.)
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (T.U.K.); (S.J.L.); (S.Y.K.)
- Wiregene, Co., Ltd., Cheonan 31116, Korea
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5
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Analysis of transcript levels of a few schizophrenia candidate genes in neurons from a transgenic mouse embryonic stem cell model overexpressing DNMT1. Gene 2020; 757:144934. [PMID: 32640307 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of DNA Methyltransferase I (DNMT1) is considered as one of the etiological factors for schizophrenia (SZ). However, information on genes subjected to dysregulation because of DNMT1 overexpression is limited. To test whether a larger group of SZ-associated genes are affected, we selected 15 genes reported to be dysregulated in patients (Gad1, Reln, Ank3, Cacna1c, Dkk3, As3mt, Ppp1r11, Smad5, Syn1, Wnt1, Pdgfra, Gsk3b, Cxcl12, Tcf4 and Fez1). Transcript levels of these genes were compared between neurons derived from Dnmt1tet/tet (Tet/Tet) mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that overexpress DNMT1 with R1 (wild-type) neurons. Transcript levels of thirteen genes were significantly altered in Tet/Tet neurons of which, the dysregulation patterns of 11 were similar to patients. Transcript levels of eight out of these eleven were also significantly altered in Tet/Tet ESCs, but the dysregulation patterns of only five were similar to neurons. Comparative analyses among ESCs, embryoid bodies and neurons divided the 15 genes into four distinct groups with a majority showing developmental stage-specific patterns of dysregulation. Reduced Representational Bisulfite Sequencing data from neurons did not show any altered promoter DNA methylation for the dysregulated genes. Doxycycline treatment of Tet/Tet ESCs that eliminated DNMT1, reversed the direction of dysregulation of only four genes (Gad1, Dkk3, As3mt and Syn1). These results suggest that 1. Increased DNMT1 affected the levels of a majority of the transcripts studied, 2. Dysregulation appears to be independent of promoter methylation, 3. Effects of increased DNMT1 levels were reversible for only a subset of the genes studied, and 4. Increased DNMT1 levels may affect transcript levels of multiple schizophrenia-associated genes.
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Vyse K, Faivre L, Romich M, Pagter M, Schubert D, Hincha DK, Zuther E. Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulation and Transcriptional Memory of Chromatin Regulators in Response to Low Temperature. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:39. [PMID: 32117378 PMCID: PMC7020257 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin regulation ensures stable repression of stress-inducible genes under non-stress conditions and transcriptional activation and memory of stress-related genes after stress exposure. However, there is only limited knowledge on how chromatin genes are regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level upon stress exposure and relief from stress. We reveal that the repressive modification histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) targets genes which are quickly activated upon cold exposure, however, H3K27me3 is not necessarily lost during a longer time in the cold. In addition, we have set-up a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-based platform for high-throughput transcriptional profiling of a large set of chromatin genes. We find that the expression of many of these genes is regulated by cold. In addition, we reveal an induction of several DNA and histone demethylase genes and certain histone variants after plants have been shifted back to ambient temperature (deacclimation), suggesting a role in the memory of cold acclimation. We also re-analyze large scale transcriptomic datasets for transcriptional regulation and alternative splicing (AS) of chromatin genes, uncovering an unexpected level of regulation of these genes, particularly at the splicing level. This includes several vernalization regulating genes whose AS may result in cold-regulated protein diversity. Overall, we provide a profiling platform for the analysis of chromatin regulatory genes and integrative analyses of their regulation, suggesting a dynamic regulation of key chromatin genes in response to low temperature stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kora Vyse
- Central Infrastructure Group Genomics and Transcript Profiling, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Léa Faivre
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melissa Romich
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Majken Pagter
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Daniel Schubert
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Daniel Schubert, ; Ellen Zuther,
| | - Dirk K. Hincha
- Central Infrastructure Group Genomics and Transcript Profiling, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ellen Zuther
- Central Infrastructure Group Genomics and Transcript Profiling, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
- *Correspondence: Daniel Schubert, ; Ellen Zuther,
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Wróblewski A, Strycharz J, Świderska E, Drewniak K, Drzewoski J, Szemraj J, Kasznicki J, Śliwińska A. Molecular Insight into the Interaction between Epigenetics and Leptin in Metabolic Disorders. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11081872. [PMID: 31408957 PMCID: PMC6723573 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, it is well-known that the deregulation of epigenetic machinery is a common biological event leading to the development and progression of metabolic disorders. Moreover, the expression level and actions of leptin, a vast adipocytokine regulating energy metabolism, appear to be strongly associated with epigenetics. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of leptin as well as the leptin-induced epigenetic modifications in metabolic disorders and associated phenomena. The collected data indicated that the deregulation of leptin expression and secretion that occurs during the course of metabolic diseases is underlain by a variation in the level of promoter methylation, the occurrence of histone modifications, along with miRNA interference. Furthermore, leptin was proven to epigenetically regulate several miRNAs and affect the activity of the histone deacetylases. These epigenetic modifications were observed in obesity, gestational diabetes, metabolic syndrome and concerned various molecular processes like glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, liver fibrosis, obesity-related carcinogenesis, adipogenesis or fetal/early postnatal programming. Moreover, the circulating miRNA profiles were associated with the plasma leptin level in metabolic syndrome, and miRNAs were found to be involved in hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. In summary, the evidence suggests that leptin is both a target and a mediator of epigenetic changes that develop in numerous tissues during metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wróblewski
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Justyna Strycharz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Świderska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Karolina Drewniak
- Student Scientific Society of the Civilization Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Józef Drzewoski
- Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Janusz Szemraj
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Kasznicki
- Department of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Śliwińska
- Department of Nucleic Acid Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska Str., 92-213 Lodz, Poland.
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8
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Elmallah MIY, Micheau O. Epigenetic Regulation of TRAIL Signaling: Implication for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060850. [PMID: 31248188 PMCID: PMC6627638 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main characteristics of carcinogenesis relies on genetic alterations in DNA and epigenetic changes in histone and non-histone proteins. At the chromatin level, gene expression is tightly controlled by DNA methyl transferases, histone acetyltransferases (HATs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and acetyl-binding proteins. In particular, the expression level and function of several tumor suppressor genes, or oncogenes such as c-Myc, p53 or TRAIL, have been found to be regulated by acetylation. For example, HATs are a group of enzymes, which are responsible for the acetylation of histone proteins, resulting in chromatin relaxation and transcriptional activation, whereas HDACs by deacetylating histones lead to chromatin compaction and the subsequent transcriptional repression of tumor suppressor genes. Direct acetylation of suppressor genes or oncogenes can affect their stability or function. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have thus been developed as a promising therapeutic target in oncology. While these inhibitors display anticancer properties in preclinical models, and despite the fact that some of them have been approved by the FDA, HDACi still have limited therapeutic efficacy in clinical terms. Nonetheless, combined with a wide range of structurally and functionally diverse chemical compounds or immune therapies, HDACi have been reported to work in synergy to induce tumor regression. In this review, the role of HDACs in cancer etiology and recent advances in the development of HDACi will be presented and put into perspective as potential drugs synergizing with TRAIL's pro-apoptotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed I Y Elmallah
- INSERM, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, LNC UMR1231, F-21079 Dijon, France.
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Ain Helwan 11795 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Olivier Micheau
- INSERM, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, LNC UMR1231, F-21079 Dijon, France.
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Primers on nutrigenetics and nutri(epi)genomics: Origins and development of precision nutrition. Biochimie 2019; 160:156-171. [PMID: 30878492 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between genotype and phenotype is a central goal not just for genetics but also for medicine and biological sciences. Despite outstanding technological progresses, genetics alone is not able to completely explain phenotypes, in particular for complex diseases. Given the existence of a "missing heritability", growing attention has been given to non-mendelian mechanisms of inheritance and to the role of the environment. The study of interaction between gene and environment represents a challenging but also a promising field with high potential for health prevention, and epigenetics has been suggested as one of the best candidate to mediate environmental effects on the genome. Among environmental factors able to interact with both genome and epigenome, nutrition is one of the most impacting. Not just our genome influences the responsiveness to food and nutrients, but vice versa, nutrition can also modify gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. In this complex picture, nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics represent appealing disciplines aimed to define new prospectives of personalized nutrition. This review introduces to the study of gene-environment interactions and describes how nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics modulate health, promoting or affecting healthiness through life-style, thus playing a pivotal role in modulating the effect of genetic predispositions.
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10
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Eldor R, Norton L, Fourcaudot M, Galindo C, DeFronzo RA, Abdul-Ghani M. Increased lipid availability for three days reduces whole body glucose uptake, impairs muscle mitochondrial function and initiates opposing effects on PGC-1α promoter methylation in healthy subjects. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188208. [PMID: 29261667 PMCID: PMC5737973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims FFA and FFA metabolites cause insulin resistance and impair beta cell function. The goal of our research was to examine whether elevation of plasma FFA impairs mitochondrial function and alters PGC-1α promoter methylation. Methods In this uncontrolled, change from baseline study design, insulin sensitivity and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were measured in 9 normal glucose tolerant subjects before and after 3 day lipid infusion to elevate plasma FFA concentration. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained and mitochondrial function, PGC-1α expression, and PGC-1α promoter methylation were quantitated. Results Increased plasma FFA (440±93 μmol/Lto 997±242 μM, p<0.001) decreased insulin-stimulated total glucose disposal (TGD) by 25% (p = 0.008), impaired suppression of endogenous glucose production (p = 0.01), and reduced mitochondrial ATP synthesis with complex 1 (34%, p<0.05) and complex 2 (30%, p<0.05) substrates. Lipid infusion had no effect on muscle PGC-1α RNA expression, total methylation or non-CpG methylation, but methylation of the alternative PGC-1α promoter decreased (1.30±0.30 to 0.84±0.15% methylated residues/patient•strand, p = 0.055). Within PGC-1α promoter there was demethylation of CpT residues (0.72±0.16 vs. 0.28±0.10 methylated residues/patient•strand) (p = 0.002), which was inversely correlated with PGC-1α mRNA expression (r = -0.94, p<0.0001) and ATP synthesis with complex 1 (r = -0.80, p<0.01) and complex 2 (r = -0.69, p<0.05) substrates. Lipid infusion increased DNMT-3B (methyltransferase associated with PGC-1α promoter non-CpG methylation) mRNA expression (0.87 ± 0.09 to 1.62 ± 0.22 arbitrary units, p = 0.005), which correlated inversely with CpT demethylation (r = 0.67, p<0.05). Conclusion/Interpretation Physiologic plasma FFA elevation in NGT individuals has opposing effects on PGC-1α non-CpG residue methylation (CpT demethylation and increased DNMT-3B expression), which is correlated with changes in PGC-1α expression and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Eldor
- Diabetes Unit, Institute for Metabolism, Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail:
| | - Luke Norton
- Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marcel Fourcaudot
- Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Galindo
- Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ralph A. DeFronzo
- Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Muhammad Abdul-Ghani
- Division of Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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11
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Stevenson TJ. Epigenetic Regulation of Biological Rhythms: An Evolutionary Ancient Molecular Timer. Trends Genet 2017; 34:90-100. [PMID: 29221677 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Biological rhythms are pervasive in nature, yet our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern timing is far from complete. The rapidly emerging research focus on epigenetic plasticity has revealed a system that is highly dynamic and reversible. In this Opinion, I propose an epigenetic clock model that outlines how molecular modifications, such as DNA methylation, are integral components for timing endogenous biological rhythms. The hypothesis proposed is that an epigenetic clock serves to maintain the period of molecular rhythms via control over the phase of gene transcription and this timing mechanism resides in all cells, from unicellular to complex organisms. The model also provides a novel framework for the timing of epigenetic modifications during the lifespan and transgenerational inheritance of an organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Stevenson
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK.
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12
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Morita S, Noguchi H, Horii T, Nakabayashi K, Kimura M, Okamura K, Sakai A, Nakashima H, Hata K, Nakashima K, Hatada I. Targeted DNA demethylation in vivo using dCas9-peptide repeat and scFv-TET1 catalytic domain fusions. Nat Biotechnol 2016; 34:1060-1065. [PMID: 27571369 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance of DNA methylation in health and disease, technologies to readily manipulate methylation of specific sequences for functional analysis and therapeutic purposes are lacking. Here we adapt the previously described dCas9-SunTag for efficient, targeted demethylation of specific DNA loci. The original SunTag consists of ten copies of the GCN4 peptide separated by 5-amino-acid linkers. To achieve efficient recruitment of an anti-GCN4 scFv fused to the ten-eleven (TET) 1 hydroxylase, which induces demethylation, we changed the linker length to 22 amino acids. The system attains demethylation efficiencies >50% in seven out of nine loci tested. Four of these seven loci showed demethylation of >90%. We demonstrate targeted demethylation of CpGs in regulatory regions and demethylation-dependent 1.7- to 50-fold upregulation of associated genes both in cell culture (embryonic stem cells, cancer cell lines, primary neural precursor cells) and in vivo in mouse fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiyo Morita
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Noguchi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takuro Horii
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mika Kimura
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kohji Okamura
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuhiko Sakai
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
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13
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Thomas EA. DNA methylation in Huntington's disease: Implications for transgenerational effects. Neurosci Lett 2016; 625:34-9. [PMID: 26522374 PMCID: PMC4864163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.10.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating, neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat mutation in the HTT gene. A growing body of evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications play a key role in HD pathogenesis. Expression of the disease protein, huntingtin, leads to extensive transcriptional dysregulation due to disruption of histone-modifying complexes and altered interactions with chromatin-related factors. Such epigenetic mechanisms also readily respond to environmental factors, which are now thought to influence the risk, onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders, including HD. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that has been studied intensively, however, its role in HD is just emerging. In this review, DNA methylation differences associated with HD will be summarized, as well as the role of environmental factors to alter DNA methylation in a manner that could alter disease phenotypes. Further, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance will be discussed in the context of relevant environmental factors and their potential links to HD. The study of epigenetic states in HD presents an opportunity to gain new insights into risk factors and pathogenic mechanisms associated with HD, as well as to inform about treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Thomas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States.
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14
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Lu J, Mccarter M, Lian G, Esposito G, Capoccia E, Delli-Bovi LC, Hecht J, Sheen V. Global hypermethylation in fetal cortex of Down syndrome due to DNMT3L overexpression. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1714-27. [PMID: 26911678 PMCID: PMC4986328 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by a triplication of chromosome 21 (HSA21). Increased oxidative stress, decreased neurogenesis and synaptic dysfunction from HSA21 gene overexpression are thought to cause mental retardation, dementia and seizure in this disorder. Recent epigenetic studies have raised the possibility that DNA methylation has significant effects on DS neurodevelopment. Here, we performed methylome profiling in normal and DS fetal cortices and observed a significant hypermethylation in ∼4% of probes in the DS samples compared with age-matched normals. The probes with differential methylation were distributed across all chromosomes, with no enrichment on HSA21. Functional annotation and pathway analyses showed that genes in the ubiquitination pathway were significantly altered, including: BRCA1, TSPYL5 and PEX10 HSA21 located DNMT3L was overexpressed in DS neuroprogenitors, and this overexpression increased the promoter methylation of TSPYL5 potentially through DNMT3B, and decreased its mRNA expression. DNMT3L overexpression also increased mRNA levels for TP53 and APP, effectors of TSPYL5 Furthermore, DNMT3L overexpression increased APP and PSD95 expression in differentiating neurons, whereas DNMT3LshRNA could partially rescue the APP and PSD95 up-regulation in DS cells. These results provide some of the first mechanistic insights into causes for epigenetic changes in DS, leading to modification of genes relevant for the DS neural endophenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lu
- Department of Neurology and
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Esposito
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'Vittorio Erspamer', La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy and
| | - Elena Capoccia
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'Vittorio Erspamer', La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy and
| | - Laurent C Delli-Bovi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Hecht
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Yang Q, Mas A, Diamond MP, Al-Hendy A. The Mechanism and Function of Epigenetics in Uterine Leiomyoma Development. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:163-75. [PMID: 25922306 PMCID: PMC5933172 DOI: 10.1177/1933719115584449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Uterine leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids, are the most common pelvic tumors, occurring in nearly 70% of all reproductive-aged women and are the leading indication for hysterectomy worldwide. The development of uterine leiomyomas involve a complex and heterogeneous constellation of hormones, growth factors, stem cells, genetic, and epigenetic abnormalities. An increasing body of evidence emphasizes the important contribution of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of leiomyomas. Genome-wide methylation analysis demonstrates that a subset of estrogen receptor (ER) response genes exhibit abnormal hypermethylation levels that are inversely correlated with their RNA expression. Several tumor suppressor genes, including Kruppel-like factor 11 (KLF11), deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 (DLEC1), keratin 19 (KRT19), and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) also display higher hypermethylation levels in leiomyomas when compared to adjacent normal tissues. The important role of active DNA demethylation was recently identified with regard to the ten-eleven translocation protein 1 and ten-eleven translocation protein 3-mediated elevated levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in leiomyoma. In addition, both histone deacetylase and histone methyltransferase are reported to be involved in the biology of leiomyomas. A number of deregulated microRNAs have been identified in leiomyomas, leading to an altered expression of their targets. More recently, the existence of side population (SP) cells with characteristics of tumor-initiating cells have been characterized in leiomyomas. These SP cells exhibit a tumorigenic capacity in immunodeficient mice when exposed to 17β-estradiol and progesterone, giving rise to fibroid-like tissue in vivo. These new findings will likely enhance our understanding of the crucial role epigenetics plays in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas as well as point the way to novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Yang
- Division of Translation Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Aymara Mas
- Division of Translation Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Michael P Diamond
- Division of Translation Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ayman Al-Hendy
- Division of Translation Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
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16
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Roznovăţ IA, Ruskin HJ. Theoretical cross-comparative analysis on dynamics of small intestine and colon crypts during cancer initiation. IET Syst Biol 2015; 9:259-67. [PMID: 26577160 DOI: 10.1049/iet-syb.2015.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is emerging as a fundamentally important area of biological and medical research that has implications for our understanding of human diseases including cancer, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric disorders. In the context of recent efforts on personalised medicine, a novel research direction is concerned with identification of intra-individual epigenetic variation linked to disease predisposition and development, i.e. epigenome-wide association studies. A computational model has been developed to describe the dynamics and structure of human intestinal crypts and to perform a comparative analysis on aberrant DNA methylation level induced in these during cancer initiation. The crypt framework, AgentCrypt, is an agent-based model of crypt dynamics, which handles intra- and inter-dependencies. In addition, the AgentCrypt model is used to investigate the effect of a set of potential inhibitors with respect to methylation modification in intestinal tissue during initiation of disease. Methylation level decrease over a relatively short period of 90 days is marked for the colon compared to the small intestine, although similar alterations are induced in both tissues. In addition, inhibitor effect is notable for abnormal crypt groups, with largest average methylation differences observed ≈0.75% lower in the colon and ≈0.79% lower in the small intestine with inhibitor present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina A Roznovăţ
- Current address: European Institute for Systems Biology and Medicine (EISBM), CNRS-ENS-UCBL, Campus Charles Mérieux, Université de Lyon, 50 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69366 Lyon cedex 07, France.
| | - Heather J Ruskin
- Centre for Scientific Computing & Complex Systems Modelling (SCI-SYM), School of Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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17
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HDAC inhibition imparts beneficial transgenerational effects in Huntington's disease mice via altered DNA and histone methylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 112:E56-64. [PMID: 25535382 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1415195112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that epigenetic factors can profoundly influence gene expression and, in turn, influence resistance or susceptibility to disease. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, are finding their way into clinical practice, although their exact mechanisms of action are unclear. To identify mechanisms associated with HDAC inhibition, we performed microarray analysis on brain and muscle samples treated with the HDAC1/3-targeting inhibitor, HDACi 4b. Pathways analyses of microarray datasets implicate DNA methylation as significantly associated with HDAC inhibition. Further assessment of DNA methylation changes elicited by HDACi 4b in human fibroblasts from normal controls and patients with Huntington's disease (HD) using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip revealed a limited, but overlapping, subset of methylated CpG sites that were altered by HDAC inhibition in both normal and HD cells. Among the altered loci of Y chromosome-linked genes, KDM5D, which encodes Lys (K)-specific demethylase 5D, showed increased methylation at several CpG sites in both normal and HD cells, as well as in DNA isolated from sperm from drug-treated male mice. Further, we demonstrate that first filial generation (F1) offspring from drug-treated male HD transgenic mice show significantly improved HD disease phenotypes compared with F1 offspring from vehicle-treated male HD transgenic mice, in association with increased Kdm5d expression, and decreased histone H3 Lys4 (K4) (H3K4) methylation in the CNS of male offspring. Additionally, we show that overexpression of Kdm5d in mutant HD striatal cells significantly improves metabolic deficits. These findings indicate that HDAC inhibitors can elicit transgenerational effects, via cross-talk between different epigenetic mechanisms, to have an impact on disease phenotypes in a beneficial manner.
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18
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Tough DF, Lewis HD, Rioja I, Lindon MJ, Prinjha RK. Epigenetic pathway targets for the treatment of disease: accelerating progress in the development of pharmacological tools: IUPHAR Review 11. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:4981-5010. [PMID: 25060293 PMCID: PMC4253452 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The properties of a cell are determined both genetically by the DNA sequence of its genes and epigenetically through processes that regulate the pattern, timing and magnitude of expression of its genes. While the genetic basis of disease has been a topic of intense study for decades, recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the understanding of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and a growing appreciation that epigenetic misregulation makes a significant contribution to human disease. Several large protein families have been identified that act in different ways to control the expression of genes through epigenetic mechanisms. Many of these protein families are finally proving tractable for the development of small molecules that modulate their function and represent new target classes for drug discovery. Here, we provide an overview of some of the key epigenetic regulatory proteins and discuss progress towards the development of pharmacological tools for use in research and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David F Tough
- Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Medicines Research Centre, Epinova DPU, Stevenage, UK
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19
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Tümer E, Bröer A, Balkrishna S, Jülich T, Bröer S. Enterocyte-specific regulation of the apical nutrient transporter SLC6A19 (B(0)AT1) by transcriptional and epigenetic networks. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:33813-33823. [PMID: 24121511 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.482760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterocytes are specialized to absorb nutrients from the lumen of the small intestine by expressing a select set of genes to maximize the uptake of nutrients. They develop from stem cells in the crypt and differentiate into mature enterocytes while moving along the crypt-villus axis. Using the Slc6a19 gene as an example, encoding the neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT1, we studied regulation of the gene by transcription factors and epigenetic factors in the intestine. To investigate this question, we used a fractionation method to separate mature enterocytes from crypt cells and analyzed gene expression. Transcription factors HNF1a and HNF4a activate transcription of the Slc6a19 gene in villus enterocytes, whereas high levels of SOX9 repress expression in the crypts. CpG dinucleotides in the proximal promoter were highly methylated in the crypt and fully de-methylated in the villus. Furthermore, histone modification H3K27Ac, indicating an active promoter, was prevalent in villus cells but barely detectable in crypt cells. The results suggest that Slc6a19 expression in the intestine is regulated at three different levels involving promoter methylation, histone modification, and opposing transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emrah Tümer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Angelika Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Sarojini Balkrishna
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Torsten Jülich
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Stefan Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
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20
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Abstract
Use of Foxp3-positive (Foxp3(+)) T-regulatory (Treg) cells as potential cellular therapy in patients with autoimmunity, or post-stem cell or -organ transplantation, requires a sound understanding of the transcriptional regulation of Foxp3. Conserved CpG dinucleotides in the Treg-specific demethylation region (TSDR) upstream of Foxp3 are demethylated only in stable, thymus-derived Foxp3(+) Treg cells. Since methyl-binding domain (Mbd) proteins recruit histone-modifying and chromatin-remodeling complexes to methylated sites, we tested whether targeting of Mbd2 might promote demethylation of Foxp3 and thereby promote Treg numbers or function. Surprisingly, while chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showed Mbd2 binding to the Foxp3-associated TSDR site in Treg cells, Mbd2 targeting by homologous recombination, or small interfering RNA (siRNA), decreased Treg numbers and impaired Treg-suppressive function in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found complete TSDR demethylation in wild-type (WT) Treg cells but >75% methylation in Mbd2(-/-) Treg cells, whereas reintroduction of Mbd2 into Mbd2-null Treg cells restored TSDR demethylation, Foxp3 gene expression, and Treg-suppressive function. Lastly, thymic Treg cells from Mbd2(-/-) mice had normal TSDR demethylation, but compared to WT Treg cells, peripheral Mbd2(-/-) Treg cells had a marked impairment of binding of Tet2, the DNA demethylase enzyme, at the TSDR site. These data show that Mbd2 has a key role in promoting TSDR demethylation, Foxp3 expression, and Treg-suppressive function.
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21
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The dynamics of HCF-1 modulation of herpes simplex virus chromatin during initiation of infection. Viruses 2013; 5:1272-91. [PMID: 23698399 PMCID: PMC3712308 DOI: 10.3390/v5051272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful infection of herpes simplex virus is dependent upon chromatin modulation by the cellular coactivator host cell factor-1 (HCF-1). This review focuses on the multiple chromatin modulation components associated with HCF-1 and the chromatin-related dynamics mediated by this coactivator that lead to the initiation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate early gene expression.
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22
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Lyon D, Elmore L, Aboalela N, Merrill-Schools J, McCain N, Starkweather A, Elswick RK, Jackson-Cook C. Potential epigenetic mechanism(s) associated with the persistence of psychoneurological symptoms in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer: a hypothesis. Biol Res Nurs 2013; 16:160-74. [PMID: 23585573 DOI: 10.1177/1099800413483545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Due to recent treatment advances, there have been improvements in the proportion of women surviving a diagnosis of breast cancer (BC). However, many of these survivors report persistent adverse side effects following treatment, such as cognitive dysfunction, depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and pain. Investigators have examined circulating levels of inflammatory markers, particularly serum cytokines, for a potential causal relationship to the development/persistence of these psychoneurological symptoms (PNS). While inflammatory activation, resulting from perceived stress or other factors, may directly contribute to the development of PNS, we offer an alternative hypothesis, suggesting that these symptoms are an early step in a cascade of biological changes leading to epigenetic alterations at the level of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation, histone modifications, and/or chromatin structure/chromosomal instability. Given that epigenetic patterns have plasticity, if this conjectured relationship between epigenomic/acquired genomic alterations and the development/persistence of PNS is confirmed, it could provide foundational knowledge for future research leading to the recognition of predictive markers and/or treatments to alleviate PNS in women with BC. In this article, we discuss an evolving theory of the biological basis of PNS, integrating knowledge related to inflammation and DNA repair in the context of genetic and epigenetic science to expand the paradigm for understanding symptom acquisition/persistence following chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Lyon
- 1Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
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23
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Zhao Q, Fan J, Hong W, Li L, Wu M. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by 5-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine, a DNA methylation inhibitor, through activation of DNA damage response pathway. SPRINGERPLUS 2012; 1:65. [PMID: 23397046 PMCID: PMC3565089 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-1-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multiple epigenetic changes, including alterations in DNA methylation occur during tumorigenesis. Various inhibitors of DNA methylation have been developed to prevent proliferation of cancer cells. 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (FCdR) is one such DNA methylation inhibitor, which is currently in phase II clinical trial. To investigate the molecular mechanism/s by which FCdR might mediate repression of tumor cell proliferation, we analyzed the toxicity of FCdR in various cell lines established from different sarcomas. We found HCT116, a colon cancer cell line, is much more sensitive to FCdR compared to others. FCdR treatment inhibited HCT116 cells at G2/M check point and up-regulated expression of multiple cancer-related genes, which could be due to its inhibitory activity towards DNA methylation. Furthermore, we found that FCdR activates DNA damage response pathway. Using an inhibitor for ATM and ATR kinases activity, which are required for amplifying the DNA damage repair signal, we show that FCdR induced inhibition of HCT116 cells at G2/M is mediated through activation of DNA damage response pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanyi Zhao
- Hubei Clinical Centre & Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, and College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China
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24
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Millan MJ. An epigenetic framework for neurodevelopmental disorders: from pathogenesis to potential therapy. Neuropharmacology 2012; 68:2-82. [PMID: 23246909 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Revised: 11/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are characterized by aberrant and delayed early-life development of the brain, leading to deficits in language, cognition, motor behaviour and other functional domains, often accompanied by somatic symptoms. Environmental factors like perinatal infection, malnutrition and trauma can increase the risk of the heterogeneous, multifactorial and polygenic disorders, autism and schizophrenia. Conversely, discrete genetic anomalies are involved in Down, Rett and Fragile X syndromes, tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis, the less familiar Phelan-McDermid, Sotos, Kleefstra, Coffin-Lowry and "ATRX" syndromes, and the disorders of imprinting, Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes. NDDs have been termed "synaptopathies" in reference to structural and functional disturbance of synaptic plasticity, several involve abnormal Ras-Kinase signalling ("rasopathies"), and many are characterized by disrupted cerebral connectivity and an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission. However, at a different level of integration, NDDs are accompanied by aberrant "epigenetic" regulation of processes critical for normal and orderly development of the brain. Epigenetics refers to potentially-heritable (by mitosis and/or meiosis) mechanisms controlling gene expression without changes in DNA sequence. In certain NDDs, prototypical epigenetic processes of DNA methylation and covalent histone marking are impacted. Conversely, others involve anomalies in chromatin-modelling, mRNA splicing/editing, mRNA translation, ribosome biogenesis and/or the regulatory actions of small nucleolar RNAs and micro-RNAs. Since epigenetic mechanisms are modifiable, this raises the hope of novel therapy, though questions remain concerning efficacy and safety. The above issues are critically surveyed in this review, which advocates a broad-based epigenetic framework for understanding and ultimately treating a diverse assemblage of NDDs ("epigenopathies") lying at the interface of genetic, developmental and environmental processes. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Neurodevelopmental Disorders'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Unit for Research and Discovery in Neuroscience, IDR Servier, 125 chemin de ronde, 78290 Croissy sur Seine, Paris, France.
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Seidel C, Florean C, Schnekenburger M, Dicato M, Diederich M. Chromatin-modifying agents in anti-cancer therapy. Biochimie 2012; 94:2264-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2012.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Grazul-Bilska AT, Johnson ML, Borowicz PP, Baranko L, Redmer DA, Reynolds LP. Placental development during early pregnancy in sheep: effects of embryo origin on fetal and placental growth and global methylation. Theriogenology 2012; 79:94-102. [PMID: 23117132 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2012] [Revised: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The origin of embryos including those created through assisted reproductive technologies might have profound effects on placental and fetal development, possibly leading to compromised pregnancies associated with poor placental development. To determine the effects of embryo origin on fetal size, and maternal and fetal placental cellular proliferation and global methylation, pregnancies were achieved through natural mating (NAT), or transfer of embryos generated through in vivo (NAT-ET), IVF, or in vitro activation (IVA). On Day 22 of pregnancy, fetuses were measured and placental tissues were collected to immunologically detect Ki67 (a marker of proliferating cells) and 5-methyl cytosine followed by image analysis, and determine mRNA expression for three DNA methyltransferases. Fetal length and labeling index (proportion of proliferating cells) in maternal caruncles (maternal placenta) and fetal membranes (fetal placenta) were less (P < 0.001) in NAT-ET, IVF, and IVA than in NAT. In fetal membranes, expression of 5-methyl cytosine was greater (P < 0.02) in IVF and IVA than in NAT. In maternal caruncles, mRNA expression for DNMT1 was greater (P < 0.01) in IVA compared with the other groups, but DNMT3A expression was less (P < 0.04) in NAT-ET and IVA than in NAT. In fetal membranes, expression of mRNA for DNMT3A was greater (P < 0.01) in IVA compared with the other groups, and was similar in NAT, NAT-ET, and IVF groups. Thus, embryo origin might have specific effects on growth and function of ovine uteroplacental and fetal tissues through regulation of tissue growth, DNA methylation, and likely other mechanisms. These data provide a foundation for determining expression of specific factors regulating placental and fetal tissue growth and function in normal and compromised pregnancies, including those achieved with assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna T Grazul-Bilska
- Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
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Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) offer revolutionary infertility treatments for millions of childless couples around the world. Currently, ART accounts for 1 to 3% of annual births in industrialized countries and continues to expand rapidly. Except for an increased incidence of premature births, these technologies are considered safe. However, new evidence published during the past decade has suggested an increased incidence of imprinting disorders in children conceived by ART. Specifically, an increased risk was reported for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), Angelman syndrome (AS), Silver-Russell syndrome, and retinoblastoma. In contrast, some studies have found no association between ART and BWS, AS, Prader-Willi syndrome, transient neonatal diabetes mellitus, and retinoblastoma. The variability in ART protocols and the rarity of imprinting disorders complicate determining the causative relationship between ART and an increased incidence of imprinting disorders. Nevertheless, compelling experimental data from animal studies also suggest a link between increased imprinting disorders and ART. Further comprehensive, appropriately powered studies are needed to better address the magnitude of the risk for ART-associated imprinting disorders. Large longitudinal studies are particularly critical to evaluate long-term effects of ART not only during the perinatal period but also into adulthood. An important consideration is to determine if the implicated association between ART and imprinting disorders is actually related to the procedures or to infertility itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Eroglu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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Abstract
The past decade has highlighted the central role of epigenetic processes in cancer causation, progression and treatment. Next-generation sequencing is providing a window for visualizing the human epigenome and how it is altered in cancer. This view provides many surprises, including linking epigenetic abnormalities to mutations in genes that control DNA methylation, the packaging and the function of DNA in chromatin, and metabolism. Epigenetic alterations are leading candidates for the development of specific markers for cancer detection, diagnosis and prognosis. The enzymatic processes that control the epigenome present new opportunities for deriving therapeutic strategies designed to reverse transcriptional abnormalities that are inherent to the cancer epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B. Baylin
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
| | - Peter A. Jones
- The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
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