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Dong QQ, Yang Y, Tao H, Lu C, Yang JJ. m6A epitranscriptomic and epigenetic crosstalk in liver fibrosis: Special emphasis on DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs. Cell Signal 2024; 122:111302. [PMID: 39025344 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a pathological process caused by a variety of chronic liver diseases. Currently, therapeutic options for liver fibrosis are very limited, highlighting the urgent need to explore new treatment approaches. Epigenetic modifications and epitranscriptomic modifications, as reversible regulatory mechanisms, are involved in the development of liver fibrosis. In recent years, researches in epitranscriptomics and epigenetics have opened new perspectives for understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Exploring the epigenetic mechanisms of liver fibrosis may provide valuable insights into the development of new therapies for chronic liver diseases. This review primarily focus on the regulatory mechanisms of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, non-coding RNA, and DNA methylation in organ fibrosis. It discusses the interactions between m6A modification and DNA methylation, as well as between m6A modification and non-coding RNA, providing a reference for understanding the interplay between epitranscriptomics and epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Qi Dong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Suzhou Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215153, China
| | - Hui Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Chao Lu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.
| | - Jing-Jing Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
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2
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Yu H, Wang Y, Wang D, Yi Y, Liu Z, Wu M, Wu Y, Zhang Q. Landscape of the epigenetic regulation in wound healing. Front Physiol 2022; 13:949498. [PMID: 36035490 PMCID: PMC9403478 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.949498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound healing after skin injury is a dynamic and highly coordinated process involving a well-orchestrated series of phases, including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Epigenetic regulation refers to genome-wide molecular events, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, represented by microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA). Epigenetic regulation is pervasively occurred in the genome and emerges as a new role in gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Currently, it is well-recognized that epigenetic factors are determinants in regulating gene expression patterns, and may provide evolutionary mechanisms that influence the wound microenvironments and the entire healing course. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively summarize the emerging roles and mechanisms of epigenetic remodeling in wound healing. Moreover, we also pose the challenges and future perspectives related to epigenetic modifications in wound healing, which would bring novel insights to accelerated wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Min Wu
- *Correspondence: Min Wu, ; Yiping Wu, ; Qi Zhang,
| | - Yiping Wu
- *Correspondence: Min Wu, ; Yiping Wu, ; Qi Zhang,
| | - Qi Zhang
- *Correspondence: Min Wu, ; Yiping Wu, ; Qi Zhang,
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3
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Sun QF, Tang LJ, Wang MJ, Zhu PW, Li YY, Ma HL, Huang OY, Hong L, Li G, Byrne CD, Targher G, Liu WY, Lu Y, Ding JG, Zheng MH. Potential Blood DNA Methylation Biomarker Genes for Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Biopsy-Proven Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:864570. [PMID: 35433752 PMCID: PMC9008751 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.864570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectiveThis pilot study aimed to identify potential blood DNA methylation (BDM) biomarker genes for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsWe included a total of 16 NAFLD patients with significant (SLF, liver fibrosis stage ≥ 2) and 16 patients with non-significant liver fibrosis (NSLF, fibrosis stages 0–1). The association between BDM and liver fibrosis was analyzed. Genes were selected based on a stepwise-filtering with CpG islands containing significant differentially methylated probes.ResultsThe two groups of patients were distinguishable through both t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) analysis and unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis based on their BDM status. BDM levels were significantly higher in the NSLF group than in the SLF group. The methylation levels in the island and shelf regions were also significantly higher in the NSLF group, as well as the methylation levels in the first exon, 3′-untranslated region, body, ExonBnd, non-intergenic region, transcription start site (TSS)1500, and TSS200 regions (all p < 0.05). BDM status was associated with greater histological liver fibrosis, but not with age, sex, or other histological features of NAFLD (p < 0.05). The methylation levels of the hypomethylated CpG island region of CISTR, IFT140, and RGS14 genes were increased in the NSLF group compared to the SLF group (all p < 0.05).ConclusionBDM may stratify NAFLD patients with significant and non-significant liver fibrosis. The CISTR, IFT140, and RGS14 genes are potential novel candidate BDM biomarkers for liver fibrosis and these pilot data suggest further work on BDM biomarkers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Feng Sun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liang-Jie Tang
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ming-Jie Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei-Wu Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yang-Yang Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hong-Lei Ma
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ou-Yang Huang
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Gang Li
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Christopher D. Byrne
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Targher
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Wen-Yue Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Guang Ding
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Ji-Guang Ding,
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming-Hua Zheng,
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Abstract
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is caused by the accumulation of fat in over 5% of hepatocytes in the absence of alcohol consumption. NAFLD is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MS). Recently, an expert consensus suggested as more appropriate the term MAFLD (metabolic-associated fatty liver disease). Insulin resistance (IR) plays a key role in the development of NAFLD, as it causes an increase in hepatic lipogenesis and an inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis. Beyond the imbalance of adipokine levels, the increase in the mass of visceral adipose tissue also determines an increase in free fatty acid (FFA) levels. In turn, an excess of FFA is able to determine IR through the inhibition of the post-receptor insulin signal. Adipocytes secrete chemokines, which are able to enroll macrophages inside the adipose tissue, responsible, in turn, for the increased levels of TNF-α. The latter, as well as resistin and other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, enhances insulin resistance and correlates with endothelial dysfunction and an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. In this review, the role of diet, intestinal microbiota, genetic and epigenetic factors, low-degree chronic systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress on NAFLD have been addressed. Finally, the clinical impact of NAFLD on cardiovascular and renal outcomes, and its direct link with type 2 diabetes have been discussed.
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5
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Cui Z, Huang N, Liu L, Li X, Li G, Chen Y, Wu Q, Zhang J, Long S, Wang M, Sun F, Shi Y, Pan Q. Dynamic analysis of m6A methylation spectroscopy during progression and reversal of hepatic fibrosis. Epigenomics 2020; 12:1707-1723. [PMID: 33174480 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To dynamically analyze the differential m6A methylation during the progression and reversal of hepatic fibrosis. Materials & methods: We induced hepatic fibrosis in C57/BL6 mice by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. The reversal model of hepatic fibrosis was established by stopping drug after continuous injection of CCl4. Dynamic m6A methylation was evaluated using MeRIP-Seq in the progression and reversal of hepatic fibrosis at different stages. Result: During the hepatic fibrosis, differential m6A methylation was mainly enriched in processes associated with oxidative stress and cytochrome metabolism, while differential m6A methylation was mainly enriched in processes associated with immune response and apoptosis in the hepatic fibrosis reversal. Conclusion: m6A methylation plays an important role in the progression and reversal of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqi Cui
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Nan Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Guohui Li
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Shuping Long
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Minyi Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Fenyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
| | - Qiuhui Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
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6
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Li K, Qin L, Jiang S, Li A, Zhang C, Liu G, Sun J, Sun H, Zhao Y, Li N, Zhang Y. The signature of HBV-related liver disease in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA methylation. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:81. [PMID: 32513305 PMCID: PMC7278209 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00847-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease induces liver damage by hepatic immune and inflammatory response. The association between aberrant peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) DNA methylation and progression of liver disease and fibrosis remains unclear. Results Here we applied Infinium 450 K BeadChip investigating PBMC genome-wide methylation profiling of 48 HBV-related liver disease patients including 24 chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 14 compensated liver cirrhosis (LC), and 10 decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC). In total, there were 7888 differentially methylated CpG sites (36.06% hypermethylation, 63.94% hypomethylation) correlate with liver disease progression. LC was difficult to be diagnosed, intermediating between CHB and DLC. We used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-logistic regression method to perform a LC predictive model. The predicted probability (P) of having LC was estimated by the combined model: P = 1/(1 − e−x), where X = 11.52 − 2.82 × (if AST within the normal range − 0.19 × (percent methylation of cg05650055) − 0.21 × (percent methylation of cg17149911 ). Pyrosequencing validation and confusion matrix analysis was used for internal testing, area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of model was 0.917 (95% CI, 0.80–0.977). On the fibrosis progress, there were 1705 genes in LC compared with CHB, whose differentially methylated CpG sites loading within the “promoter” regions (including TSS1500, TSS200, 5′UTR, and the 1st exon of genes) subject into the enrichment analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). There were 113 enriched immune-related pathways indicated that HBV-related liver fibrosis progression caused epigenetic reprogramming of the immune and inflammatory response. Conclusions These data support idea that development of HBV-related chronic liver disease is linked with robust and broad alteration of methylation in peripheral immune system. CpG methylation sites serve as relevant biomarker candidates to monitor and diagnose LC, providing new insight into the immune mechanisms understanding the progression of HBV-related liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Li
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Qin
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Schools of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Ang Li
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guihai Liu
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jianping Sun
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huanqing Sun
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing You'An hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Li
- Departments of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yonghong Zhang
- Biomedical Information Center, Beijing You'An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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7
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Piperigkou Z, Karamanos NK. Estrogen receptor-mediated targeting of the extracellular matrix network in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 62:116-124. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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8
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Ulukan B, Sila Ozkaya Y, Zeybel M. Advances in the epigenetics of fibroblast biology and fibrotic diseases. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 49:102-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Borthwick
- Fibrosis Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Fiona Oakley
- Fibrosis Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
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10
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Chung MY, Song JH, Lee J, Shin EJ, Park JH, Lee SH, Hwang JT, Choi HK. Tannic acid, a novel histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease both in vivo and in vitro model. Mol Metab 2018; 19:34-48. [PMID: 30473486 PMCID: PMC6323241 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We examined the potential of tannic acid (TA) as a novel histone acetyltransferase inhibitor (HATi) and demonstrated that TA prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by inhibiting HAT activity. Methods The anti-HAT activity of TA was examined using HAT activity assays. An in vitro NAFLD model was generated by treating HepG2 cells with oleic and palmitic acids. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet (CD) or Western diet (WD) with or without supplementation with either 1% or 3% TA (w/w) for 12 weeks. Finally, the possibility of interacting p300 and TA was simulated. Results TA suppressed HAT activity both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, TA abrogated occupancy of p300 on the sterol regulatory element in the fatty acid synthase and ATP-citrate lyase promoters, eventually inducing hypoacetylation of H3K9 and H3K36. Furthermore, TA decreased acetylation at lysine residues 9 and 36 of histone H3 protein and that of total proteins. Consequently, TA decreased the mRNA expression of lipogenesis-related genes and attenuated lipid accumulation in vivo. We observed that NAFLD features, including body weight, liver mass, fat mass, and lipid profile in serum, were improved by TA supplementation in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated the possibility that TA directly binds to p300 through docking simulation between ligand and protein. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that TA, a novel HATi, has potential application for the prevention of NAFLD. Tannic acid is a general inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase. Tannic acid decreases transcriptional activity of the lipogenesis-related genes through its HATi activity. Tannic acid ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the western diet-fed mice through its HATi activity. Tannic acid binds to EP300, possibly reducing its activity through inducing conformational change of EP300.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yu Chung
- Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Song
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhyuk Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Department of Bioinformatics, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Shin
- Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Biotechnology, Korea University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ho Park
- Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hyun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 03722 Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Taek Hwang
- Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Biotechnology, Korea University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo-Kyoung Choi
- Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Gutierrez Sanchez LH, Tomita K, Guo Q, Furuta K, Alhuwaish H, Hirsova P, Baheti S, Alver B, Hlady R, Robertson KD, Ibrahim SH. Perinatal Nutritional Reprogramming of the Epigenome Promotes Subsequent Development of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Hepatol Commun 2018; 2:1493-1512. [PMID: 30556038 PMCID: PMC6287484 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
With the epidemic of obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common pediatric liver disease. The influence of a perinatal obesity‐inducing diet (OID) on the development and progression of NAFLD in offspring is important but incompletely studied. Hence, we fed breeding pairs of C57BL/6J mice during gestation and lactation (perinatally) either chow or an OID rich in fat, fructose, and cholesterol (FFC). The offspring were weaned to either chow or an FFC diet, generating four groups: perinatal (p)Chow‐Chow, pChow‐FFC, pFFC‐Chow, and pFFC‐FFC. Mice were sacrificed at 10 weeks of age. We examined the whole‐liver transcriptome by RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) and whole‐liver genome methylation by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Our results indicated that the pFFC‐FFC mice had a significant increase in hepatic steatosis, injury, inflammation, and fibrosis, as assessed histologically and biochemically. We identified 189 genes that were differentially expressed and methylated in the pFFC‐FFC mice versus the pChow‐FFC mice. Gene set enrichment analysis identified hepatic fibrosis/hepatic stellate cell activation as the top canonical pathway, suggesting that the differential DNA methylation events in the mice exposed to the FFC diet perinatally were associated with a profibrogenic transcriptome. To verify that this finding was consistent with perinatal nutritional reprogramming of the methylome, we exposed pFFC‐Chow mice to an FFC diet in adulthood. These mice developed significant hepatic steatosis, injury, inflammation, and more importantly fibrosis when compared to the appropriate controls. Conclusion: Perinatal exposure to an OID primes the immature liver for an accentuated fibrosing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) phenotype, likely through nutritional reprogramming of the offspring methylome. These data have potential clinical implications for monitoring children of obese mothers and risk stratification of children with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyoko Tomita
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Qianqian Guo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Kunimaro Furuta
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Husam Alhuwaish
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Petra Hirsova
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN.,Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic
| | - Saurabh Baheti
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Bonnie Alver
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Ryan Hlady
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Keith D Robertson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Samar H Ibrahim
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
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12
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Ibrahim SH, Robertson KD. Use of the CRISPR/Cas9-based epigenetic gene activation system In Vivo: A new potential therapeutic modality. Hepatology 2018; 68:1191-1193. [PMID: 29489018 PMCID: PMC6113124 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samar H. Ibrahim
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota,Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota,Corresponding Author: Samar H. Ibrahim, M.B., Ch.B., Assistant Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905 Phone: 507 284 0686; Fax: 507 284 0762,
| | - Keith D. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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13
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Zhang Y, Liu J, Ma Y, Wang J, Zhu J, Liu J, Zhang J. Integrated profiling of long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs identifies novel regulators associated with liver fibrosis. Pathol Res Pract 2018; 214:1794-1803. [PMID: 30193772 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the underlying cause of cirrhosis and liver failure in any type of chronic liver injury. However, the function of lncRNAs in liver fibrosis is largely unknown. In this study, we performed transcriptome sequencing of CCl4 induced mouse fibrotic liver tissues and normal liver tissues, and found 118 lncRNAs and 1921 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated, whereas 59 lncRNAs and 1504 mRNAs were down-regulated in fibrotic livers. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the differentially expressed lncRNAs are implicated in cell junction, cell differentiation and cell proliferation, pathways closely associated with EMT. The co-expression network of highly conserved lncRNAs and highly co-expressed mRNAs were constructed, whose differential expression were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Two highly conserved lncRNAs, Gm11149 and Gm20471, were identified to be significantly up-regulated in liver fibrosis. Their target genes, Ncam1 and Prrx1 respectively, are important modulators of EMT. Thus, the relative dynamic levels of Gm11149 and Ncam1, Gm20471 and Prrx1 were further monitored during the progress of liver fibrosis and their co-expression pattern was proved. Collectively, our results uncovered a crucial role of lncRNAs in the regulation of liver fibrosis and the lncRNA -mRNA network might provide new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitong Zhang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyun Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjie Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Piperigkou Z, Götte M, Theocharis AD, Karamanos NK. Insights into the key roles of epigenetics in matrix macromolecules-associated wound healing. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 129:16-36. [PMID: 29079535 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic network of macromolecules, playing a regulatory role in cell functions, tissue regeneration and remodeling. Wound healing is a tissue repair process necessary for the maintenance of the functionality of tissues and organs. This highly orchestrated process is divided into four temporally overlapping phases, including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and tissue remodeling. The dynamic interplay between ECM and resident cells exerts its critical role in many aspects of wound healing, including cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, survival, matrix degradation and biosynthesis. Several epigenetic regulatory factors, such as the endogenous non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), are the drivers of the wound healing response. microRNAs have pivotal roles in regulating ECM composition during wound healing and dermal regeneration. Their expression is associated with the distinct phases of wound healing and they serve as target biomarkers and targets for systematic regulation of wound repair. In this article we critically present the importance of epigenetics with particular emphasis on miRNAs regulating ECM components (i.e. glycoproteins, proteoglycans and matrix proteases) that are key players in wound healing. The clinical relevance of miRNA targeting as well as the delivery strategies designed for clinical applications are also presented and discussed.
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Zeidler R, de Freitas Soares BL, Bader A, Giri S. Molecular epigenetic targets for liver diseases: current challenges and future prospects. Drug Discov Today 2017; 22:1620-1636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Xing M, Chen X, Li X, Yang Y, Wang X, Cao X, Xue H, Wang S, Diao Y, Zhao W, Zhao M, Cui X, Chang T, Xu B, Wei H. Histone deacetylase inhibitor stimulates E2 and P4 secretion in sika deer ovarian granulosa cells at a moderate dose. Cell Biol Int 2017; 42:324-333. [PMID: 29064603 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) and tumor suppressor play an important role in genome reorganization and epigenetic regulation. In this study, granulosa cells (GCs) isolated from sika deer ovaries were cultured and treated with different concentrations of trichostatin A (TSA) for 48 h. It was found that TSA inhibited GCs proliferation and induced GCs apoptosis by upregulating expression of BAX, meanwhile, downregulating expression of GLUT3, GLUT8, BCL-XL. In addition, TSA caused cell cycle arrest at the G1 and G2/M phase accompanied by reducing expression of Cyclin D2 and CDK4. TSA pretreatment increased DNMT3a, DNMT1, HDAC1, and HAT1 expression, and attenuated them when TAS higher than 50 nM. The protein levels of H3K9ac and H4K8ac in GCs were increased at 48 h after TSA treatment. TSA stimulated the secretion of estradiol and progesterone at a moderate dose. Our data suggest that TSA is important as a regulator of steroid hormone synthesis in granulosa cells during follicular development in the sika deer ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Xing
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Xiumin Chen
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Yifeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Xinyan Cao
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Hailong Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Shiyong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Yunfei Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Weigang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Xuezhe Cui
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Tong Chang
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Baozeng Xu
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
| | - Haijun Wei
- Department of Animal Breeding Innovation, Institute of Special Animals and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China
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Boyle M, Mann J. WITHDRAWN: Epigenetics in Chronic Liver Disease. J Hepatol 2017:S0168-8278(17)32255-9. [PMID: 28855099 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the editors. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Boyle
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4(th) Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Jelena Mann
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4(th) Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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Impact of histone demethylase KDM3A-dependent AP-1 transactivity on hepatotumorigenesis induced by PI3K activation. Oncogene 2017; 36:6262-6271. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis arises because prolonged injury combined with excessive scar deposition within hepatic parenchyma arising from overactive wound healing response mediated by activated myofibroblasts. Fibrosis is the common end point for any type of chronic liver injury including alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and cholestatic liver diseases. Although genetic influences are important, it is epigenetic mechanisms that have been shown to orchestrate many aspects of fibrogenesis in the liver. New discoveries in the field are leading toward the development of epigenetic biomarkers and targeted therapies. This review considers epigenetic mechanisms as well as recent advances in epigenetic programming in the context of hepatic fibrosis.
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Key Words
- CLD, chronic liver disease
- Chronic Liver Disease
- CpG, cytosine-phospho-guanine
- DNA Methylation
- DNMT, DNA methyltransferase
- Epigenetics
- HDAC, histone deacetylase
- HSC, hepatic stellate cell
- Histone Modifications
- Liver Fibrosis
- NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- PPAR, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor
- TET, Ten Eleven Translocation
- miRNA, microRNA
- ncRNA, non-coding RNA
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jelena Mann
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Jelena Mann, PhD, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4th Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH United Kingdom. fax: +44-191-208-0723.Institute of Cellular MedicineFaculty of Medical Sciences4th FloorWilliam Leech BuildingNewcastle UniversityFramlington PlaceNewcastle upon TyneNE2 4HH United Kingdom
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Hedgehog Signaling Overcomes an EZH2-Dependent Epigenetic Barrier to Promote Cholangiocyte Expansion. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168266. [PMID: 27936185 PMCID: PMC5148157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Developmental morphogens play an important role in coordinating the ductular reaction and portal fibrosis occurring in the setting of cholangiopathies. However, little is known about how membrane signaling events in ductular reactive cells (DRCs) are transduced into nuclear transcriptional changes to drive cholangiocyte maturation and matrix deposition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate potential mechanistic links between cell signaling events and epigenetic regulators in DRCs. METHODS Using directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), isolated DRCs, and in vivo models, we examine the mechanisms whereby sonic hedgehog (Shh) overcomes an epigenetic barrier in biliary precursors and promotes both cholangiocyte maturation and deposition of fibronectin (FN). RESULTS We demonstrate, for the first time, that Gli1 influences the differentiation state and fibrogenic capacity of iPSC-derived hepatic progenitors and isolated DRCs. We outline a novel pathway wherein Shh-mediated Gli1 binding in key cholangiocyte gene promoters overcomes an epigenetic barrier conferred by the polycomb protein, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and initiates the transcriptional program of cholangiocyte maturation. We also define previously unknown functional Gli1 binding sites in the promoters of cytokeratin (CK)7, CK19, and FN. Our in vivo results show that EZH2 KO mice fed the choline-deficient, ethanolamine supplemented (CDE) diet have an exaggerated cholangiocyte expansion associated with more robust ductular reaction and increased peri-portal fibrosis. CONCLUSION We conclude that Shh/Gli1 signaling plays an integral role in cholangiocyte maturation in vitro by overcoming an EZH2-dependent epigenetic barrier and this mechanism also promotes biliary expansion in vivo.
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Buzzetti E, Pinzani M, Tsochatzis EA. The multiple-hit pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Metabolism 2016; 65:1038-48. [PMID: 26823198 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1812] [Impact Index Per Article: 226.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 11/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent and represents a growing challenge in terms of prevention and treatment. Despite its high prevalence, only a small minority of affected patients develops inflammation and subsequently fibrosis and chronic liver disease, while most of them only exhibit simple steatosis. In this context, the full understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is of extreme importance; despite advances in this field, knowledge on the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still incomplete. The 'two-hit' hypothesis is now obsolete, as it is inadequate to explain the several molecular and metabolic changes that take place in NAFLD. The "multiple hit" hypothesis considers multiple insults acting together on genetically predisposed subjects to induce NAFLD and provides a more accurate explanation of NAFLD pathogenesis. Such hits include insulin resistance, hormones secreted from the adipose tissue, nutritional factors, gut microbiota and genetic and epigenetic factors. In this article, we review the factors that form this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Buzzetti
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health and Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health and Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health and Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK.
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Zeybel M, Vatansever S, Hardy T, Sarı AA, Cakalağaoğlu F, Avcı A, Zeybel GL, Karahüseyinoğlu S, Bashton M, Mathers JC, Ünsal B, Mann J. DNA methylation profiling identifies novel markers of progression in hepatitis B-related chronic liver disease. Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:48. [PMID: 27152124 PMCID: PMC4857425 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0218-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis B infection is characterized by hepatic immune and inflammatory response with considerable variation in the rates of progression to cirrhosis. Genetic variants and environmental cues influence predisposition to the development of chronic liver disease; however, it remains unknown if aberrant DNA methylation is associated with fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B. Results To identify epigenetic marks associated with inflammatory and fibrotic processes of the hepatitis B-induced chronic liver disease, we carried out hepatic genome-wide methylation profiling using Illumina Infinium BeadArrays comparing mild and severe fibrotic disease in a discovery cohort of 29 patients. We obtained 310 differentially methylated regions and selected four loci comprising three genes from the top differentially methylated regions: hypermethylation of HOXA2 and HDAC4 along with hypomethylation of PPP1R18 were significantly linked to severe fibrosis. We replicated the prominent methylation marks in an independent cohort of 102 patients by bisulfite modification and pyrosequencing. The timing and causal relationship of epigenetic modifications with disease severity was further investigated using a cohort of patients with serial biopsies. Conclusions Our findings suggest a linkage of widespread epigenetic dysregulation with disease progression in chronic hepatitis B infection. CpG methylation at novel genes sheds light on new molecular pathways, which can be potentially exploited as a biomarker or targeted to attenuate inflammation and fibrosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-016-0218-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Müjdat Zeybel
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,School of Medicine, Koç University Hospital, Koç University, 4th floor- M-4220. Davutpaşa Caddesi no: 4, 34010 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sezgin Vatansever
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Timothy Hardy
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ayşegül Akder Sarı
- Department of Pathology, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Fulya Cakalağaoğlu
- Department of Pathology, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Arzu Avcı
- Department of Pathology, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gemma Louise Zeybel
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Serçin Karahüseyinoğlu
- School of Medicine, Koç University Hospital, Koç University, 4th floor- M-4220. Davutpaşa Caddesi no: 4, 34010 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Matthew Bashton
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John C Mathers
- Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Belkıs Ünsal
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Jelena Mann
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Epigenetics in Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition: Present Trends and Future Perspectives. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2016; 62:521-9. [PMID: 26628441 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics can be defined as stable, potentially heritable changes in the cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. As such, any observed phenotypic changes including organ development, aging, and the occurrence of disease could be driven by epigenetic mechanisms in the presence of stable cellular DNA sequences. Indeed, with the exception of rare mutations, the human genome-sequence has remained remarkably stable over the past centuries. In contrast, substantial changes to our environment as part of our modern life style have not only led to a significant reduction of certain infectious diseases but also seen the exponential increase in complex traits including obesity and multifactorial diseases such as autoimmune disorders. It is becoming increasingly clear that epigenetic mechanisms operate at the interface between the genetic code and our environment, and a large body of existing evidence supports the importance of environmental factors such as diet and nutrition, infections, and exposure to toxins on human health. This seems to be particularly the case during vulnerable periods of human development such as pregnancy and early life. Importantly, as the first point of contact for many of such environmental factors including nutrition, the digestive system is being increasingly linked to a number of "modern" pathologies. In this review article, we aim to give a brief introduction to the basic molecular principals of epigenetics and provide a concise summary of the existing evidence for the role of epigenetic mechanisms in gastrointestinal health and disease, hepatology, and nutrition.
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Page A, Mann DA. Epigenetic regulation of liver fibrosis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2015; 39 Suppl 1:S64-8. [PMID: 26189981 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common and important pathology associated with progressive chronic liver diseases and underlies the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Research into the molecular regulation of fibrosis has discovered that it is under the control of a number of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications and the activities of non-coding RNAs. A deeper understanding of how epigenetic regulators such as DNA methyltranserases, methyl-DNA binding proteins, histone modifying enzymes and regulatory RNA molecules impact on the fibrogenic process is expected to result in new biomarkers for disease progression as well as novel therapeutic targets. The aim of this mini-review is to briefly introduce the reader to the major epigenetic regulators so far identified as being implicated in fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Page
- Fibrosis Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Derek A Mann
- Fibrosis Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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Epigenetic Changes during Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128745. [PMID: 26065684 PMCID: PMC4466775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which can participate in liver regeneration and fibrogenesis, have recently been identified as liver-resident mesenchymal stem cells. During their activation HSC adopt a myofibroblast-like phenotype accompanied by profound changes in the gene expression profile. DNA methylation changes at single genes have been reported during HSC activation and may participate in the regulation of this process, but comprehensive DNA methylation analyses are still missing. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of DNA methylation during in vitro activation of HSC. METHODS AND RESULTS The analysis of DNA methylation changes by antibody-based assays revealed a strong decrease in the global DNA methylation level during culture-induced activation of HSC. To identify genes which may be regulated by DNA methylation, we performed a genome-wide Methyl-MiniSeq EpiQuest sequencing comparing quiescent and early culture-activated HSC. Approximately 400 differentially methylated regions with a methylation change of at least 20% were identified, showing either hypo- or hypermethylation during activation. Further analysis of selected genes for DNA methylation and expression were performed revealing a good correlation between DNA methylation changes and gene expression. Furthermore, global DNA demethylation during HSC activation was investigated by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine assay and L-mimosine treatment showing that demethylation was independent of DNA synthesis and thereby excluding a passive DNA demethylation mechanism. CONCLUSIONS In summary, in vitro activation of HSC initiated strong DNA methylation changes, which were associated with gene regulation. These results indicate that epigenetic mechanisms are important for the control of early HSC activation. Furthermore, the data show that global DNA demethylation during activation is based on an active DNA demethylation mechanism.
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Atta HM. Reversibility and heritability of liver fibrosis: Implications for research and therapy. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:5138-5148. [PMID: 25954087 PMCID: PMC4419054 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i17.5138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis continues to be a major health problem worldwide due to lack of effective therapy. If the etiology cannot be eliminated, liver fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis and eventually to liver failure or malignancy; both are associated with a fatal outcome. Liver transplantation, the only curative therapy, is still mostly unavailable. Liver fibrosis was shown to be a reversible process; however, complete reversibility remains debatable. Recently, the molecular markers of liver fibrosis were shown to be transmitted across generations. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications and noncoding RNA have emerged as major determinants of gene expression during liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. Furthermore, epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to be transmitted through mitosis and meiosis to daughter cells and subsequent generations. However, the exact epigenetic regulation of complete liver fibrosis resolution and inheritance has not been fully elucidated. This communication will highlight the recent advances in the search for delineating the mechanisms governing resolution of liver fibrosis and the potential for multigenerational and transgenerational transmission of fibrosis markers. The fact that epigenetic changes, unlike genetic mutations, are reversible and can be modulated pharmacologically underscores the unique opportunity to develop effective therapy to completely reverse liver fibrosis, to prevent the development of malignancy and to regulate heritability of fibrosis phenotype.
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Mutant MMP-9 and HGF gene transfer enhance resolution of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats: role of ASH1 and EZH2 methyltransferases repression. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112384. [PMID: 25380300 PMCID: PMC4224431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene transfer inhibits liver fibrosis by regulating aberrant cellular functions, while mutant matrix metalloproteinase-9 (mMMP-9) enhances matrix degradation by neutralizing the elevated tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). It was shown that ASH1 and EZH2 methyltransferases are involved in development of liver fibrosis; however, their role in the resolution phase of liver fibrosis has not been investigated. This study evaluated the role of ASH1 and EZH2 in two mechanistically different therapeutic modalities, HGF and mMMP-9 gene transfer in CCl4 induced rat liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced in rats with twice a week intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 for 8 weeks. Adenovirus vectors encoding mMMP-9 or HGF genes were injected through tail vein at weeks six and seven and were sacrificed one week after the second injection. A healthy animal group was likewise injected with saline to serve as a negative control. Rats treated with mMMP-9 showed significantly lower fibrosis score, less Sirius red stained collagen area, reduced hydroxyproline and ALT concentration, decreased transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) mRNA and lower labeling indices of α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) stained cells compared with HGF- or saline-treated rats. Furthermore, TIMP-1 protein expression in mMMP-9 group was markedly reduced compared with all fibrotic groups. ASH1 and EZH2 protein expression was significantly elevated in fibrotic liver and significantly decreased in mMMP-9- and HGF-treated compared to saline-treated fibrotic livers with further reduction in the mMMP-9 group. Conclusion: Gene transfer of mMMP-9 and HGF reduced liver fibrosis in rats. ASH1 and EZH2 methyltransferases are significantly reduced in mMMP-9 and HGF treated rats which underlines the central role of these enzymes during fibrogenesis. Future studies should evaluate the role of selective pharmacologic inhibitors of ASH1 and EZH2 in resolution of liver fibrosis.
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Krueger W, Boelsterli UA, Rasmussen TP. Stem Cell Strategies to Evaluate Idiosyncratic Drug-induced Liver Injury. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2014; 2:143-52. [PMID: 26355943 PMCID: PMC4521249 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2014.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The host-dependent nature of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (iDILI) suggests that rare genetic polymorphisms may contribute to the disease. Indeed, a few mutations in key genes have already been identified using conventional human genetics approaches. Over 50 commonly used drugs can precipitate iDILI, making this a substantial medical problem. Only recently have human induced pluripotent stem cells been used as a research tool to discover novel iDILI genes and to study the mechanisms of iDILI in vitro. Here we review the current state of stem cell use in the investigation of iDILI, with a special focus on genetics. In addition, the concerns and difficulties associated with genetics and animal model research are discussed. We then present the features of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells (which may be derived from iDILI patients themselves), and explain why these cells may be of great utility. A variety of recent approaches to produce hepatocyte-like cells from pluripotent cells and the associated advantages and limitations of such cells are discussed. Future directions for the use of stem cell science to investigate iDILI include novel ways to identify new iDILI genes, a consideration of epigenetic impacts on iDILI, and the development of new and improved strategies for the production of hepatocytes from human pluripotent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winfried Krueger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Urs A. Boelsterli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Theodore P. Rasmussen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, Storrs/Farmington, CT, USA
- Correspondence to: Theodore P. Rasmussen, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 North Eagleville Road, U-3092, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Tel: +86-486-8339, Fax: +86-486-5792. E-mail:
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Firrincieli D, Braescu T, Housset C, Chignard N. Illuminating liver fibrosis with vitamin D. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2014; 38:5-8. [PMID: 24238723 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2013.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis results from the accumulation of extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts in the liver. The mechanisms leading to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts have been well described. By contrast, few molecular pathways leading to myofibroblast deactivation have been documented. Recently, the vitamin D-VDR axis has been shown to modulate HSC activity through a complex mechanism involving epigenetic modifications induced by the SMAD pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Firrincieli
- Inserm UMR_S 938, CdR Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75012 Paris, France
| | - T Braescu
- Inserm UMR_S 938, CdR Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75012 Paris, France
| | - C Housset
- Inserm UMR_S 938, CdR Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75012 Paris, France; AP-HP, hôpital Saint-Antoine, service d'hépatologie, 75012 Paris, France
| | - N Chignard
- Inserm UMR_S 938, CdR Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75012 Paris, France.
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