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Quinn EB, Hsiao CJ, Maisha FM, Mulligan CJ. Prenatal maternal stress is associated with site-specific and age acceleration changes in maternal and newborn DNA methylation. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2222473. [PMID: 37300821 PMCID: PMC10259347 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2222473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stress has a negative impact on child health but the mechanisms through which maternal stress affects child health are unclear. Epigenetic variation, such as DNA methylation, is a likely mechanistic candidate as DNA methylation is sensitive to environmental insults and can regulate long-term changes in gene expression. We recruited 155 mother-newborn dyads in the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate the effects of maternal stress on DNA methylation in mothers and newborns. We used four measures of maternal stress to capture a range of stressful experiences: general trauma, sexual trauma, war trauma, and chronic stress. We identified differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with general trauma, sexual trauma, and war trauma in both mothers and newborns. No DMPs were associated with chronic stress. Sexual trauma was positively associated with epigenetic age acceleration across several epigenetic clocks in mothers. General trauma and war trauma were positively associated with newborn epigenetic age acceleration using the extrinsic epigenetic age clock. We tested the top DMPs for enrichment of DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHS) and found no enrichment in mothers. In newborns, top DMPs associated with war trauma were enriched for DHS in embryonic and foetal cell types. Finally, one of the top DMPs associated with war trauma in newborns also predicted birthweight, completing the cycle from maternal stress to DNA methylation to newborn health outcome. Our results indicate that maternal stress is associated with site-specific changes in DNAm and epigenetic age acceleration in both mothers and newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward B. Quinn
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chu J. Hsiao
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Felicien M. Maisha
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Democratic Republic of Congo, HEAL Africa Hospital, Goma, USA
- Democratic Republic of Congo, Maisha Institute, Goma, USA
| | - Connie J. Mulligan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Abstract
The initial discovery of left-handed Z-DNA was met with great excitement as a dramatic alternative to the right-handed double-helical conformation of canonical B-DNA. In this chapter, we describe the workings of the program ZHUNT as a computational approach to mapping Z-DNA in genomic sequences using a rigorous thermodynamic model for the transition between the two conformations (the B-Z transition). The discussion starts with a brief summary of the structural properties that differentiate Z- from B-DNA, focusing on those properties that are particularly relevant to the B-Z transition and the junction that splices a left- to right-handed DNA duplex. We then derive the statistical mechanics (SM) analysis of the zipper model that describes the cooperative B-Z transition and show that this analysis very accurately simulates this behavior of naturally occurring sequences that are induced to undergo the B-Z transition through negative supercoiling. A description of the ZHUNT algorithm and its validation are presented, followed by how the program had been applied for genomic and phylogenomic analyses in the past and how a user can access the online version of the program. Finally, we present a new version of ZHUNT (called mZHUNT) that has been parameterized to analyze sequences that contain 5-methylcytosine bases and compare the results of the ZHUNT and mZHUNT analyses on native and methylated yeast chromosome 1.
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Changes in Stereotypies: Effects over Time and over Generations. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192504. [PMID: 36230246 PMCID: PMC9559266 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192504] [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: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Herein, we propose that there should be discussion about the function and effects of stereotypies in relation to the time during which they are shown. In the first stages, stereotypies may help animals deal with challenges. However, behavior can potentially alter the brain, impairing its function due the absence of a diverse repertory, and change brain connections, neurophysiology and later neuroanatomy. The neuroanatomical changes in individuals showing stereotypies could be an effect rather than a cause of the stereotypy. As a consequence, studies showing different outcomes for animal welfare from stereotypy expression could be due to variation in a timeline of expression. Stereotypies are widely used as an animal welfare indicator, and their expression can tell us about psychological states. However, there are questions about the longer-term consequences if animals express stereotypies: do the stereotypies help in coping? During the prenatal period, stereotypic behavior expressed by the mother can change the phenotype of the offspring, especially regarding emotionality, one mechanism acting via methylation in the limbic system in the brain. Are individuals that show stereotypies for shorter or longer periods all better adjusted, and hence have better welfare, or is the later welfare of some worse than that of individuals that do not show the behavior? Abstract Stereotypies comprise a wide range of repeated and apparently functionless behaviors that develop in individuals whose neural condition or environment results in poor welfare. While stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare at the time of occurrence, they may have various consequences. Environmental enrichment modifies causal factors and reduces the occurrence of stereotypies, providing evidence that stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare. However, stereotypy occurrence and consequences change over time. Furthermore, there are complex direct and epigenetic effects when mother mammals that are kept in negative conditions do or do not show stereotypies. It is proposed that, when trying to deal with challenging situations, stereotypies might initially help animals to cope. After further time in the conditions, the performance of the stereotypy may impair brain function and change brain connections, neurophysiology and eventually neuroanatomy. It is possible that reported neuroanatomical changes are an effect of the stereotypy rather than a cause.
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Du Y, Zhang P, Liu W, Tian J. Optical Imaging of Epigenetic Modifications in Cancer: A Systematic Review. PHENOMICS (CHAM, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 2:88-101. [PMID: 36939779 PMCID: PMC9590553 DOI: 10.1007/s43657-021-00041-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that abnormal epigenetic modifications are strongly related to cancer initiation. Thus, sensitive and specific detection of epigenetic modifications could markedly improve biological investigations and cancer precision medicine. A rapid development of molecular imaging approaches for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer has been observed during the past few years. Various biomarkers unique to epigenetic modifications and targeted imaging probes have been characterized and used to discriminate cancer from healthy tissues, as well as evaluate therapeutic responses. In this study, we summarize the latest studies associated with optical molecular imaging of epigenetic modification targets, such as those involving DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA regulation, and chromosome remodeling, and further review their clinical application on cancer diagnosis and treatment. Lastly, we further propose the future directions for precision imaging of epigenetic modification in cancer. Supported by promising clinical and preclinical studies associated with optical molecular imaging technology and epigenetic drugs, the central role of epigenetics in cancer should be increasingly recognized and accepted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Du
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Pei Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- grid.412474.00000 0001 0027 0586Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Supportive Care Center and Day Oncology Unit, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142 China
| | - Wei Liu
- grid.412474.00000 0001 0027 0586Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Supportive Care Center and Day Oncology Unit, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142 China
| | - Jie Tian
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- grid.64939.310000 0000 9999 1211Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191 China
- grid.440736.20000 0001 0707 115XSchool of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710071 Shaanxi China
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Psychological intervention to treat distress: An emerging frontier in cancer prevention and therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1877:188665. [PMID: 34896258 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Psychological distress, such as chronic depression and anxiety, is a topical problem. In the context of cancer patients, prevalence rates of psychological distress are four-times higher than in the general population and often confer worse outcomes. In addition to evidence from epidemiological studies confirming the links between psychological distress and cancer progression, a growing body of cellular and molecular studies have also revealed the complex signaling networks which are modulated by psychological distress-derived chronic stress during cancer progression. In this review, aiming to uncover the intertwined networks of chronic stress-driven oncogenesis and progression, we summarize physiological stress response pathways, like the HPA, SNS, and MGB axes, that modulate the release of stress hormones with potential carcinogenic properties. Furthermore, we discuss in detail the mechanisms behind these chronic stimulations contributing to the initiation and progression of cancer through direct regulation of cancer hallmarks-related signaling or indirect promotion of cancer risk factors (including obesity, disordered circadian rhythms, and premature senescence), suggesting a novel research direction into cancer prevention and therapy on the basis of psychological interventions.
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Tao M, Li R, Xu T, Zhang Z, Wu T, Pan S, Xu X. Flavonoids from the mung bean coat promote longevity and fitness in Caenorhabditis elegans. Food Funct 2021; 12:8196-8207. [PMID: 34296240 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo01322j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mung beans possess health benefits related to their bioactive ingredients, mainly flavonoids, which are highly concentrated in the coat. However, the anti-aging effects of mung beans are rarely reported. In this work, we found that mung bean coat extract (MBCE), rich in vitexin and isovitexin, extended the lifespan and promoted the health of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) without any disadvantages. Moreover, MBCE enhanced the resistance to heat and oxidation of C. elegans by reducing the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and up-regulating the expression of stress-resistant genes or proteins. Further studies demonstrated that MBCE improved longevity, stress-resistance and fitness by mediating the mitochondrial function, mimicking calorie restriction, and altering histone modification. These findings provide direct evidence for the anti-aging effects of mung beans and new insights into the innovations and applications of mung beans for the healthcare industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingfang Tao
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
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Mulligan CJ. Systemic racism can get under our skin and into our genes. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:399-405. [PMID: 33905118 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Special Issue - Race reconciled II: Interpreting and communicating biological variation and race in 2021 Many sociocultural factors, like poverty and trauma, or homelessness versus a safe neighborhood, can get "under our skin" and affect our lives. These factors may also get "into our genes" through epigenetic changes that influence how genes are expressed. Changes in gene expression can further influence how we respond to sociocultural factors and how those factors impact our physical and mental health, creating a feedback loop between our sociocultural environment and our genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie J Mulligan
- Department of Anthropology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Ohsawa S, Umemura T, Terada T, Muto Y. Network and Evolutionary Analysis of Human Epigenetic Regulators to Unravel Disease Associations. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11121457. [PMID: 33291839 PMCID: PMC7761991 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We carried out a system-level analysis of epigenetic regulators (ERs) and detailed the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network characteristics of disease-associated ERs. We found that most diseases associated with ERs can be clustered into two large groups, cancer diseases and developmental diseases. ER genes formed a highly interconnected PPI subnetwork, indicating a high tendency to interact and agglomerate with one another. We used the disease module detection (DIAMOnD) algorithm to expand the PPI subnetworks into a comprehensive cancer disease ER network (CDEN) and developmental disease ER network (DDEN). Using the transcriptome from early mouse developmental stages, we identified the gene co-expression modules significantly enriched for the CDEN and DDEN gene sets, which indicated the stage-dependent roles of ER-related disease genes during early embryonic development. The evolutionary rate and phylogenetic age distribution analysis indicated that the evolution of CDEN and DDEN genes was mostly constrained, and these genes exhibited older evolutionary age. Our analysis of human polymorphism data revealed that genes belonging to DDEN and Seed-DDEN were more likely to show signs of recent positive selection in human history. This finding suggests a potential association between positive selection of ERs and risk of developmental diseases through the mechanism of antagonistic pleiotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Ohsawa
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; (S.O.); (T.T.)
- Department of Nursing, Ogaki Women’s College, 1-109, Nishinokawa-cho, Ogaki 503-8554, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Umemura
- Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630, Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Tomoyoshi Terada
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; (S.O.); (T.T.)
- Department of Functional Bioscience, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Muto
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; (S.O.); (T.T.)
- Department of Functional Bioscience, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-58-293-3241
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Vander Zanden CM, Czarny RS, Ho EN, Robertson AB, Ho PS. Structural adaptation of vertebrate endonuclease G for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine recognition and function. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3962-3974. [PMID: 32095813 PMCID: PMC7144941 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Modified DNA bases functionally distinguish the taxonomic forms of life—5-methylcytosine separates prokaryotes from eukaryotes and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) invertebrates from vertebrates. We demonstrate here that mouse endonuclease G (mEndoG) shows specificity for both 5hmC and Holliday junctions. The enzyme has higher affinity (>50-fold) for junctions over duplex DNAs. A 5hmC-modification shifts the position of the cut site and increases the rate of DNA cleavage in modified versus unmodified junctions. The crystal structure of mEndoG shows that a cysteine (Cys69) is positioned to recognize 5hmC through a thiol-hydroxyl hydrogen bond. Although this Cys is conserved from worms to mammals, a two amino acid deletion in the vertebrate relative to the invertebrate sequence unwinds an α-helix, placing the thiol of Cys69 into the mEndoG active site. Mutations of Cys69 with alanine or serine show 5hmC-specificity that mirrors the hydrogen bonding potential of the side chain (C–H < S–H < O–H). A second orthogonal DNA binding site identified in the mEndoG structure accommodates a second arm of a junction. Thus, the specificity of mEndoG for 5hmC and junctions derives from structural adaptations that distinguish the vertebrate from the invertebrate enzyme, thereby thereby supporting a role for 5hmC in recombination processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal M Vander Zanden
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1870, USA
| | - Ryan S Czarny
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1870, USA
| | - Ethan N Ho
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1870, USA
| | - Adam B Robertson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, NO-0027 Oslo, Norway
| | - P Shing Ho
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1870, USA
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Gettler LT, Lin DTS, Miegakanda V, Lew-Levy S, Eick GN, Snodgrass JJ, MacIsaac JL, Ramadori KE, Kobor MS, Boyette AH. Epigenetic aging in children from a small-scale farming society in The Congo Basin: Associations with child growth and family conflict. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 62:138-153. [PMID: 31724171 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Developmental environments influence individuals' long-term health trajectories, and there is increasing emphasis on understanding the biological pathways through which this occurs. Epigenetic aging evaluates DNA methylation at a suite of distinct CpG sites in the genome, and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is linked to heightened chronic morbidity and mortality risks in adults. Consequently, EAA provides insights on trajectories of biological aging, which early life experiences may help shape. However, few studies have measured correlates of children's epigenetic aging, especially outside of the U.S. and Europe. In particular, little is known about how children's growth and development relate to EAA in ecologies in which energetic and pathogenic stressors are commonplace. We studied EAA from dried blood spots among Bondongo children (n = 54) residing in a small-scale, fisher-farmer society in a remote region of the Republic of the Congo. Here, infectious disease burdens and their resultant energy demands are high. Children who were heavier for height or taller for age, respectively, exhibited greater EAA, including intrinsic EAA, which is considered to measure EAA internal to cells. Furthermore, we found that children in families with more conflict between parents had greater intrinsic EAA. These results suggest that in contexts in which limited energy must be allocated to competing demands, more investment in growth may coincide with greater EAA, which parallels findings in European children who do not face similar energetic constraints. Our findings also indicate that associations between adverse family environments and greater intrinsic EAA were nonetheless observable but only after adjustment for covariates relevant to the energetically and immunologically demanding nature of the local ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee T Gettler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.,William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA
| | - David T S Lin
- BC Children's Hospital Research, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Valchy Miegakanda
- Institut National de Santé Publique, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Sheina Lew-Levy
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Geeta N Eick
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- BC Children's Hospital Research, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katia E Ramadori
- BC Children's Hospital Research, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- BC Children's Hospital Research, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Adam H Boyette
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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12
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Li R, Xing QW, Wu XL, Zhang L, Tang M, Tang JY, Wang JZ, Han P, Wang SQ, Wang W, Zhang W, Zhou GP, Qin ZQ. Di-n-butyl phthalate epigenetically induces reproductive toxicity via the PTEN/AKT pathway. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:307. [PMID: 30952838 PMCID: PMC6450951 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a kind of ubiquitous chemical linked to hormonal disruptions that affects male reproductive system. However, the mechanism of DBP-induced germ cells toxicity remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that DBP induces reduction of proliferation, increase of apoptosis and DNA damage dependent on the PTEN/AKT pathway. Mechanistically, DBP decreases PTEN promoter methylation and increases its transcriptional activity, leading to increased PTEN expression. Notably, DNMT3b is confirmed as a target of miR-29b and miR-29b-mediated status of PTEN methylation is involved in the effects of DBP treatment. Meanwhile, DBP decreases AKT pathway expression via increasing PTEN expression. In addition, the fact that DBP decreases the sperm number and the percentage of motile and progressive sperm is associated with downregulated AKT pathway and sperm flagellum-related genes. Collectively, these findings indicate that DBP induces aberrant PTEN demethylation, leading to inhibition of the AKT pathway, which contributes to the reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian-Wei Xing
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, China
| | - Xiao-Lu Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Tang
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing-Zi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Han
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Shang-Qian Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China.
| | - Guo-Ping Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China.
| | - Zhi-Qiang Qin
- Department of Urology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 210006, Nanjing, China.
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Renault S, Genty M, Gabori A, Boisneau C, Esnault C, Dugé de Bernonville T, Augé-Gouillou C. The epigenetic regulation of HsMar1, a human DNA transposon. BMC Genet 2019; 20:17. [PMID: 30764754 PMCID: PMC6375154 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0719-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both classes of transposable elements (DNA and RNA) are tightly regulated at the transcriptional level leading to the inactivation of transposition via epigenetic mechanisms. Due to the high copies number of these elements, the hypothesis has emerged that their regulation can coordinate a regulatory network of genes. Herein, we investigated whether transposition regulation of HsMar1, a human DNA transposon, differs in presence or absence of endogenous HsMar1 copies. In the case where HsMar1 transposition is regulated, the number of repetitive DNA sequences issued by HsMar1 and distributed in the human genome makes HsMar1 a good candidate to regulate neighboring gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. RESULTS A recombinant active HsMar1 copy was inserted in HeLa (human) and CHO (hamster) cells and its genomic excision monitored. We show that HsMar1 excision is blocked in HeLa cells, whereas CHO cells are competent to promote HsMar1 excision. We demonstrate that de novo HsMar1 insertions in HeLa cells (human) undergo rapid silencing by cytosine methylation and apposition of H3K9me3 marks, whereas de novo HsMar1 insertions in CHO cells (hamster) are not repressed and enriched in H3K4me3 modifications. The overall analysis of HsMar1 endogenous copies in HeLa cells indicates that neither full-length endogenous inactive copies nor their Inverted Terminal Repeats seem to be specifically silenced, and are, in contrast, devoid of epigenetic marks. Finally, the setmar gene, derived from HsMar1, presents H3K4me3 modifications as expected for a human housekeeping gene. CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights that de novo and old HsMar1 are not similarly regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Old HsMar1 are generally detected as lacking epigenetic marks, irrespective their localisation relative to the genes. Considering the putative existence of a network associating HsMar1 old copies and SETMAR, two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses are proposed: active and inactive HsMar1 copies are not similarly regulated or/and regulations concern only few loci (and few genes) that cannot be detected at the whole genome level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvaine Renault
- EA 6306 Instabilité génétique et cancer, Université de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, UFR Pharmacie, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
- UMR 1253, iBrain, University of Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | - Murielle Genty
- EA 6306 Instabilité génétique et cancer, Université de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, UFR Pharmacie, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
- UMR 1253, iBrain, University of Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | - Alison Gabori
- EA 6306 Instabilité génétique et cancer, Université de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, UFR Pharmacie, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Catherine Boisneau
- UMR CITERES CNRS 7324, Université de Tours, 35 Allée Ferdinand de Lesseps, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Charles Esnault
- EA 6306 Instabilité génétique et cancer, Université de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, UFR Pharmacie, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
| | | | - Corinne Augé-Gouillou
- EA 6306 Instabilité génétique et cancer, Université de Tours, UFR Sciences et Techniques, UFR Pharmacie, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
- UMR 1253, iBrain, University of Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
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