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Huang X, Huang L, Gao X, Liu C. Global research trends in DNA methylation in rheumatoid arthritis: A bibliometric analysis and visual analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36218. [PMID: 38181259 PMCID: PMC10766281 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder with a significant global economic burden. Epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, play a crucial role in RA. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to explore the evolving trends and predominant themes in RA and DNA methylation research over the past two decades. A total of 1800 articles met the inclusion criteria, and the analysis revealed consistent growth in the literature, with a notable increase in output after 2019. The research involved 70 countries, 2139 academic institutions, 23,365 unique authors, and 58,636 co-cited authors. The United States emerged as a dominant contributor in this research domain. The significance of DNA methylation in shaping research directions for RA management is increasingly evident. Recent investigations have shed light on the pivotal role of DNA methylation in RA, particularly in characterizing synovial tissue and exploring the underlying mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. This study provides valuable insights into the landscape of DNA methylation research in RA and highlights the importance of epigenetics in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Longxiang Huang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Changhua Liu
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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Natoli V, Charras A, Hofmann SR, Northey S, Russ S, Schulze F, McCann L, Abraham S, Hedrich CM. DNA methylation patterns in CD4 + T-cells separate psoriasis patients from healthy controls, and skin psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1245876. [PMID: 37662940 PMCID: PMC10472451 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1245876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psoriasis is an autoimmune/inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the skin. Chronic joint inflammation triggers the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in approximately one-third of psoriasis patients. Although joint disease typically follows the onset of skin psoriasis, in around 15% of cases it is the initial presentation, which can result in diagnostic delays. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying psoriasis and PsA are not yet fully understood, but there is evidence pointing towards epigenetic dysregulation involving CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate disease-associated DNA methylation patterns in CD4+ T-cells from psoriasis and PsA patients that may represent potential diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Methods PBMCs were collected from 12 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 8 PsA patients, and 8 healthy controls. CD4+ T-cells were separated through FACS sorting, and DNA methylation profiling was performed (Illumina EPIC850K arrays). Bioinformatic analyses, including gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis, were performed using R. To identify genes under the control of interferon (IFN), the Interferome database was consulted, and DNA Methylation Scores were calculated. Results Numbers and proportions of CD4+ T-cell subsets (naïve, central memory, effector memory, CD45RA re-expressing effector memory cells) did not vary between controls, skin psoriasis and PsA patients. 883 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) affecting 548 genes were identified between controls and "all" psoriasis patients. Principal component and partial least-squares discriminant analysis separated controls from skin psoriasis and PsA patients. GO analysis considering promoter DMPs delivered hypermethylation of genes involved in "regulation of wound healing, spreading of epidermal cells", "negative regulation of cell-substrate junction organization" and "negative regulation of focal adhesion assembly". Comparing controls and "all" psoriasis, a majority of DMPs mapped to IFN-related genes (69.2%). Notably, DNA methylation profiles also distinguished skin psoriasis from PsA patients (2,949 DMPs/1,084 genes) through genes affecting "cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor activity" and "cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulator activity". Treatment with cytokine inhibitors (IL-17/TNF) corrected DNA methylation patterns of IL-17/TNF-associated genes, and methylation scores correlated with skin disease activity scores (PASI). Conclusion DNA methylation profiles in CD4+ T-cells discriminate between skin psoriasis and PsA. DNA methylation signatures may be applied for quantification of disease activity and patient stratification towards individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Natoli
- Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Università degli Studi di Genova, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-infantili (DINOGMI), Genoa, Italy
| | - Amandine Charras
- Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sigrun R. Hofmann
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sarah Northey
- Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Russ
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Felix Schulze
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Liza McCann
- Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Abraham
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian M. Hedrich
- Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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3
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Designing Studies for Epigenetic Biomarker Development in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. RHEUMATOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2022; 3:103-110. [PMID: 36788968 PMCID: PMC9895872 DOI: 10.2478/rir-2022-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
In just a few years, the number of epigenetic studies in autoimmune rheumatic and inflammatory diseases has greatly increased. This is in part due to the need of identifying additional determinants to genetics to explain the pathogenesis and development of these disorders. In this regard, epigenetics provides potential mechanisms that determine gene function, are linked to environmental factors, and could explain a wide range of phenotypic variability among patients with these diseases. Despite the high interest and number of studies describing epigenetic alterations under these conditions and exploring their relationship to various clinical aspects, few of the proposed biomarkers have yet reached clinical practice. The potential of epigenetic markers is high, as these alterations link measurable features with a number of biological traits. In the present article, we present published studies in the field, discuss some frequent limitations in the existing research, and propose a number of considerations that should be taken into account by those starting new projects in the field, with an aim to generate biomarkers that could make it into the clinics.
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Tegner JN, Gomez-Cabrero D. Data-driven bioinformatics to disentangle cells within a tissue microenvironment. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:467-469. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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5
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Studenic P, Hensvold A, Kleyer A, van der Helm-van Mil A, Pratt AG, Sieghart D, Krönke G, Williams R, de Souza S, Karlfeldt S, Johannesson M, Krogh NS, Klareskog L, Catrina AI. Prospective Studies on the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The European Risk RA Registry. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:824501. [PMID: 35273981 PMCID: PMC8901993 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.824501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The accumulation of risk for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is regarded as a continuum that may start with interacting environmental and genetic factors, proceed with the initiation of autoimmunity, and result in the formation of autoantibodies such as anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA). In parallel, at-risk individuals may be asymptomatic or experience joint pain (arthralgia) that is itself non-specific or clinically suspicious for evolving RA, even in the absence of overt arthritis. Optimal strategies for the management of people at-risk of RA, both for symptom control and to delay or prevent progression to classifiable disease, remain poorly understood. Methods To help address this, groups of stakeholders from academia, clinical rheumatology, industry and patient research partners have collaborated to advance understanding, define and study different phases of the at-risk state. In this current report we describe different European initiatives in the field and the successful effort to build a European Registry of at-risk people to facilitate observational and interventional research. Results We outline similarities and differences between cohorts of at-risk individuals at institutions spanning several countries, and how to best combine them within the new database. Over the past 2 years, besides building the technical infrastructure, we have agreed on a core set of variables that all partners should strive to collect for harmonization purposes. Conclusion We emphasize to address this process from different angles and touch on the biologic, epidemiologic, analytic, and regulatory aspects of collaborative studies within a meta-database of people at-risk of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Studenic
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Internal Medicine 3, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aase Hensvold
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Academic Specialist Centre-Stockholm Health Care Services, Centre for Rheumatology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnd Kleyer
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Annette van der Helm-van Mil
- Department of Rheumatology, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arthur G Pratt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Musculoskeletal Services Directorate, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Sieghart
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Krönke
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ruth Williams
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Savia de Souza
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Karlfeldt
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Academic Specialist Centre-Stockholm Health Care Services, Centre for Rheumatology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martina Johannesson
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Lars Klareskog
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Rheumatology Section, Theme Inflammation and Infection, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anca I Catrina
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract
Significance: Epigenetic dysregulation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of autoimmune diseases. Oxidative stress is associated with autoimmunity and is also known to alter epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding the interplay between oxidative stress and epigenetics will provide insights into the role of environmental triggers in the development of autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals. Recent Advances: Abnormal DNA and histone methylation patterns in genes and pathways involved in interferon and tumor necrosis factor signaling, cellular survival, proliferation, metabolism, organ development, and autoantibody production have been described in autoimmunity. Inhibitors of DNA and histone methyltransferases showed potential therapeutic effects in animal models of autoimmune diseases. Oxidative stress can regulate epigenetic mechanisms via effects on DNA damage repair mechanisms, cellular metabolism and the local redox environment, and redox-sensitive transcription factors and pathways. Critical Issues: Studies looking into oxidative stress and epigenetics in autoimmunity are relatively limited. The number of available longitudinal studies to explore the role of DNA methylation in the development of autoimmune diseases is small. Future Directions: Exploring the relationship between oxidative stress and epigenetics in autoimmunity will provide clues for potential preventative measures and treatment strategies. Inception cohorts with longitudinal follow-up would help to evaluate epigenetic marks as potential biomarkers for disease development, progression, and treatment response in autoimmunity. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 423-440.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Zheng
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Lupus Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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7
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Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease involving symmetric joints and is generally characterized by persistent pain, tenderness, and destruction of joints. The vast majority of RA patients produce autoantibodies, and immune cell involvement in disease development is well recognized, as is the contribution of other types of cells in synovial tissue, like fibroblasts. It is known that there are major genetic associations with the HLA locus, while multiple non-HLA genetic variants display relatively low risk of RA. Both HLA and non-HLA associations suggest that the profiles of genetic associations for autoantibody-positive vs. autoantibody-negative RA are different. Several alleles of HLA-DRB1 are associated with high risk for autoantibody-positive RA, with the strongest risk characterized by valine at position 11 of the protein sequence (HLA-DRB1*04 and *10 alleles). There is a strong protective effect for the risk of autoantibody-positive RA associated with HLA-DRB1*13 alleles. Although major genetic associations have been known for several years, understanding of the specific mechanisms in the development of increased risk of RA for these variations is work in progress. Current studies focus on the binding of immune receptors involved in recognition of putative peptides in activation of T cells, as well as investigation of cell signaling mechanisms. At least a part of RA risk could be explained by gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. There are currently more than 150 candidate loci with polymorphisms that associate with RA, mainly related to seropositive disease, and new discoveries are anticipated in the future from investigation of diverse human populations. This new research will help create a strong foundation for the continuing process of integrating genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data in studies of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Padyukov
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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8
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Zeng Y, Zhao K, Oros Klein K, Shao X, Fritzler MJ, Hudson M, Colmegna I, Pastinen T, Bernatsky S, Greenwood CMT. Thousands of CpGs Show DNA Methylation Differences in ACPA-Positive Individuals. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1349. [PMID: 34573331 PMCID: PMC8472734 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
High levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are often observed prior to a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook a replication study to confirm CpG sites showing evidence of differential methylation in subjects positive vs. negative for ACPA, in a new subset of 112 individuals sampled from the population cohort and biobank CARTaGENE in Quebec, Canada. Targeted custom capture bisulfite sequencing was conducted at approximately 5.3 million CpGs located in regulatory or hypomethylated regions from whole blood; library and protocol improvements had been instituted between the original and this replication study, enabling better coverage and additional identification of differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Using binomial regression models, we identified 19,472 ACPA-associated differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs), of which 430 overlapped with the 1909 DMCs reported by the original study; 814 DMRs of relevance were clustered by grouping adjacent DMCs into regions. Furthermore, we performed an additional integrative analysis by looking at the DMRs that overlap with RA related loci published in the GWAS Catalog, and protein-coding genes associated with these DMRs were enriched in the biological process of cell adhesion and involved in immune-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Zeng
- PhD Program in Quantitative Life Sciences, Interfaculty Studies, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1E3, Canada;
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; (K.Z.); (K.O.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Kaiqiong Zhao
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; (K.Z.); (K.O.K.); (M.H.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada
| | - Kathleen Oros Klein
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; (K.Z.); (K.O.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Xiaojian Shao
- Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada;
| | - Marvin J. Fritzler
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Marie Hudson
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; (K.Z.); (K.O.K.); (M.H.)
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.C.); (S.B.)
- Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Inés Colmegna
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.C.); (S.B.)
- Division of Rheumatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Tomi Pastinen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada;
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children’s Mercy, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Sasha Bernatsky
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.C.); (S.B.)
- Division of Rheumatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Celia M. T. Greenwood
- PhD Program in Quantitative Life Sciences, Interfaculty Studies, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1E3, Canada;
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; (K.Z.); (K.O.K.); (M.H.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada;
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3T2, Canada
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Schamschula E, Lahnsteiner A, Assenov Y, Hagmann W, Zaborsky N, Wiederstein M, Strobl A, Stanke F, Muley T, Plass C, Tümmler B, Risch A. Disease-related blood-based differential methylation in cystic fibrosis and its representation in lung cancer revealed a regulatory locus in PKP3 in lung epithelial cells. Epigenetics 2021; 17:837-860. [PMID: 34415821 PMCID: PMC9423854 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1959976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic disease, characterized by massive chronic lung inflammation. The observed variability in clinical phenotypes in monozygotic CF twins is likely associated with the extent of inflammation. This study sought to investigate inflammation-related aberrant DNA methylation in CF twins and to determine to what extent acquired methylation changes may be associated with lung cancer. Blood-based genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed to compare the DNA methylomes of monozygotic twins, from the European CF Twin and Sibling Study with various degrees of disease severity. Putatively inflammation-related and differentially methylated positions were selected from a large lung cancer case-control study and investigated in blood by targeted bisulphite next-generation-sequencing. An inflammation-related locus located in the Plakophilin-3 (PKP3) gene was functionally analysed regarding promoter and enhancer activity in presence and absence of methylation using luciferase reporter assays. We confirmed in a unique cohort that monozygotic twins, even if clinically discordant, have only minor differences in global DNA methylation patterns and blood cell composition. Further, we determined the most differentially methylated positions, a high proportion of which are blood cell-type-specific, whereas others may be acquired and thus have potential relevance in the context of inflammation as lung cancer risk factors. We identified a sequence in the gene body of PKP3 which is hypermethylated in blood from CF twins with severe phenotype and highly variably methylated in lung cancer patients and controls, independent of known clinical parameters, and showed that this region exhibits methylation-dependent promoter activity in lung epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yassen Assenov
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hagmann
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nadja Zaborsky
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute - Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Anna Strobl
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Frauke Stanke
- Clinical Research Group, Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and NeonatologyClinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Muley
- Translational Research Unit, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Tümmler
- Clinical Research Group, Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and NeonatologyClinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Angela Risch
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.,Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Serum biomarker panel for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2021; 23:31. [PMID: 33461622 PMCID: PMC7812661 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-020-02405-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of inflammatory joint damage, wherein C-reactive protein and autoantibodies including rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are rapidly elevated. These serological factors are diagnostic markers of RA; however, their sensitivity and specificity for prediction warrant improvement for an early and accurate diagnosis. Methods We aimed to identify alternative biomarkers by serum protein profiling using LC-MS/MS. We performed statistical and functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins to identify biomarker candidates complementing conventional serological tests. Results Seven biomarker candidates were verified through multiple reaction monitoring-based quantitative analysis, of which angiotensinogen (AGT), serum amyloid A-4 protein (SAA4), vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) had an area under the curve over 0.8, thus distinguishing RA patients, including seronegative (RF- and anti-CCP-negative) RA patients, from healthy controls. Conclusions Therefore, among seronegative RA patients, a four-biomarker panel (AGT, SAA4, VDBP, and RBP4) can prevent false negatives and help diagnose RA accurately.
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11
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N-glycans as functional effectors of genetic and epigenetic disease risk. Mol Aspects Med 2020; 79:100891. [PMID: 32861467 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
N-glycosylation is a frequent modification of proteins, essential for all domains of life. N-glycan biosynthesis is a dynamic, complex, non-templated process, wherein specific glycoforms are modulated by various microenvironmental cues, cellular signals and local availability of dedicated enzymes and sugar precursors. This intricate regulatory network comprises hundreds of proteins, whose activity is dependent on both sequence of implicated genes and the regulation of their expression. In this regard, variation in N-glycosylation patterns stems from either gene polymorphisms or from stable epigenetic regulation of gene expression in different individuals. Moreover, epigenome alters in response to various environmental factors, representing a direct link between environmental exposure and changes in gene expression, that are subsequently reflected through altered N-glycosylation. N-glycosylation itself has a fundamental role in numerous biological processes, ranging from protein folding, cellular homeostasis, adhesion and immune regulation, to the effector functions in multiple diseases. Moreover, specific modification of the glycan structure can modulate glycoprotein's biological function or direct the faith of the entire cell, as seen on the examples of antibodies and T cells, respectively. Since immunoglobulin G is one of the most profoundly studied glycoproteins in general, the focus of this review will be on its N-glycosylation changes and their functional implications. By deepening the knowledge on the mechanistic roles that certain glycoforms exert in differential pathological processes, valuable insight into molecular perturbations occurring during disease development could be obtained. The prospect of resolving the exact biological pathways involved offers a potential for the development of new therapeutic interventions and molecular tools that would aid in prognosis, early referral and timely treatment of multiple disease conditions.
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Ballestar E, Sawalha AH, Lu Q. Clinical value of DNA methylation markers in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2020; 16:514-524. [PMID: 32759997 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-020-0470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Methylation of cytosine residues in DNA, the best studied epigenetic modification, is associated with gene transcription and nuclear organization, and ultimately the function of a cell. DNA methylation can be influenced by various factors, including changes in neighbouring genomic sites such as those induced by transcription factor binding. The DNA methylation profiles in relevant cell types are altered in most human diseases compared with the healthy state. Given the physical stability of DNA and methylated DNA compared with other epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation is an ideal marker for clinical purposes. However, few DNA methylation-based markers have made it into clinical practice, with the notable exception of some markers used in the field of oncology. Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are genetically complex entities that can vary widely in terms of prognosis, subtypes, progression and treatment responses. Increasing reports showing strong links between DNA methylation profiles and different clinical outcomes and other clinical aspects in autoimmune rheumatic diseases reinforce the usefulness of DNA methylation profiles as novel clinical markers. In this Review, we provide an updated discussion on DNA methylation alterations in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and the advantages and disadvantages of using these markers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics; Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Lupus Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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13
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Abstract
Cells, the basic units of life, have striking differences at transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic levels across tissues, organs, organ systems and organisms. The coordination of individual immune cells is essential for the generation of effective immune responses to pathogens while immune tolerance is maintained to protect the host. In rheumatic diseases, when immune responses are dysregulated, pathologically important cells might represent only a small fraction of the immune system. Interrogation of the contributions of individual immune cells to pathogenesis and disease progression should therefore reveal important insights into the complicated aetiology of rheumatic diseases. Technological advances are enabling the high-dimensional dissection of single cells at multiple omics levels, which could facilitate the identification of dysregulated molecular mechanisms in patients with rheumatic diseases and the discovery of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers. The single-cell technologies that have been developed over the past decade and the experimental platforms that enable multi-omics integrative analyses have already made inroads into immunology-related fields of study and have potential for use in rheumatology. Layers of omics data derived from single cells are likely to fundamentally change our understanding of the molecular pathways that underpin the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.
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14
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Non-parametric combination analysis of multiple data types enables detection of novel regulatory mechanisms in T cells of multiple sclerosis patients. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11996. [PMID: 31427643 PMCID: PMC6700160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48493-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system with prominent neurodegenerative components. The triggering and progression of MS is associated with transcriptional and epigenetic alterations in several tissues, including peripheral blood. The combined influence of transcriptional and epigenetic changes associated with MS has not been assessed in the same individuals. Here we generated paired transcriptomic (RNA-seq) and DNA methylation (Illumina 450 K array) profiles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (CD4, CD8), using clinically accessible blood from healthy donors and MS patients in the initial relapsing-remitting and subsequent secondary-progressive stage. By integrating the output of a differential expression test with a permutation-based non-parametric combination methodology, we identified 149 differentially expressed (DE) genes in both CD4 and CD8 cells collected from MS patients. Moreover, by leveraging the methylation-dependent regulation of gene expression, we identified the gene SH3YL1, which displayed significant correlated expression and methylation changes in MS patients. Importantly, silencing of SH3YL1 in primary human CD4 cells demonstrated its influence on T cell activation. Collectively, our strategy based on paired sampling of several cell-types provides a novel approach to increase sensitivity for identifying shared mechanisms altered in CD4 and CD8 cells of relevance in MS in small sized clinical materials.
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15
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Rheumatoid arthritis-relevant DNA methylation changes identified in ACPA-positive asymptomatic individuals using methylome capture sequencing. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:110. [PMID: 31366403 PMCID: PMC6668183 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0699-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To compare DNA methylation in subjects positive vs negative for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), a key serological marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk. Methods With banked serum from a random subset (N = 3600) of a large general population cohort, we identified ACPA-positive samples and compared them to age- and sex-matched ACPA-negative controls. We used a custom-designed methylome panel to conduct targeted bisulfite sequencing of 5 million CpGs located in regulatory or hypomethylated regions of DNA from whole blood (red blood cell lysed). Using binomial regression models, we investigated the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between ACPA-positive vs ACPA-negative subjects. An independent set of T cells from RA patients was used to “validate” the differentially methylated sites. Results We measured DNA methylation in 137 subjects, of whom 63 were ACPA-positive, 66 were ACPA-negative, and 8 had self-reported RA. We identified 1303 DMRs of relevance, of which one third (402) had underlying genetic effects. These DMRs were enriched in intergenic CpG islands (CGI) and CGI shore regions. Furthermore, the genes associated with these DMRs were enriched in pathways related to Epstein-Barr virus infection and immune response. In addition, 80 (38%) of 208 RA-specific DMRs were replicated in T cells from RA samples. Conclusions Sequencing-based high-resolution methylome mapping revealed biologically relevant DNA methylation changes in asymptomatic individuals positive for ACPA that overlap with those seen in RA. Pathway analyses suggested roles for viral infections, which may represent the effect of environmental triggers upstream of disease onset. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0699-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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16
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Webster AP, Plant D, Ecker S, Zufferey F, Bell JT, Feber A, Paul DS, Beck S, Barton A, Williams FMK, Worthington J. Increased DNA methylation variability in rheumatoid arthritis-discordant monozygotic twins. Genome Med 2018; 10:64. [PMID: 30176915 PMCID: PMC6122744 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-018-0575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Epigenome-wide association studies can identify environmentally mediated epigenetic changes such as altered DNA methylation, which may also be influenced by genetic factors. To investigate possible contributions of DNA methylation to the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis with minimum confounding genetic heterogeneity, we investigated genome-wide DNA methylation in disease-discordant monozygotic twin pairs. METHODS Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed in 79 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for rheumatoid arthritis using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array (Illumina). Discordant twins were tested for both differential DNA methylation and methylation variability between rheumatoid arthritis and healthy twins. The methylation variability signature was then compared with methylation variants from studies of other autoimmune diseases and with an independent healthy population. RESULTS We have identified a differentially variable DNA methylation signature that suggests multiple stress response pathways may be involved in the aetiology of the disease. This methylation variability signature also highlighted potential epigenetic disruption of multiple RUNX3 transcription factor binding sites as being associated with disease development. Comparison with previously performed epigenome-wide association studies of rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes identified shared pathways for autoimmune disorders, suggesting that epigenetics plays a role in autoimmunity and offering the possibility of identifying new targets for intervention. CONCLUSIONS Through genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in disease-discordant monozygotic twins, we have identified a differentially variable DNA methylation signature, in the absence of differential methylation in rheumatoid arthritis. This finding supports the importance of epigenetic variability as an emerging component in autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy P Webster
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Genetics and Genomics, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. .,Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Darren Plant
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academy of Health Sciences, Manchester University Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Simone Ecker
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Flore Zufferey
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jordana T Bell
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Feber
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.,Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dirk S Paul
- MRC/BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephan Beck
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Barton
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Genetics and Genomics, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academy of Health Sciences, Manchester University Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Frances M K Williams
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jane Worthington
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Genetics and Genomics, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. .,NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academy of Health Sciences, Manchester University Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
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17
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Smolen JS, Aletaha D, Barton A, Burmester GR, Emery P, Firestein GS, Kavanaugh A, McInnes IB, Solomon DH, Strand V, Yamamoto K. Rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018; 4:18001. [PMID: 29417936 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2018.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1244] [Impact Index Per Article: 207.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints and is associated with autoantibodies that target various molecules including modified self-epitopes. The identification of novel autoantibodies has improved diagnostic accuracy, and newly developed classification criteria facilitate the recognition and study of the disease early in its course. New clinical assessment tools are able to better characterize disease activity states, which are correlated with progression of damage and disability, and permit improved follow-up. In addition, better understanding of the pathogenesis of RA through recognition of key cells and cytokines has led to the development of targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Altogether, the improved understanding of the pathogenetic processes involved, rational use of established drugs and development of new drugs and reliable assessment tools have drastically altered the lives of individuals with RA over the past 2 decades. Current strategies strive for early referral, early diagnosis and early start of effective therapy aimed at remission or, at the least, low disease activity, with rapid adaptation of treatment if this target is not reached. This treat-to-target approach prevents progression of joint damage and optimizes physical functioning, work and social participation. In this Primer, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef S Smolen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Aletaha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Barton
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Genetics and Genomics and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester and Central Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Gerd R Burmester
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Emery
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.,NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Gary S Firestein
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Arthur Kavanaugh
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Iain B McInnes
- Institute of Infection Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel H Solomon
- Division of Rheumatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vibeke Strand
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamoto
- Laboratory for Autoimmune Diseases, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
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18
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Sjöholm LK, Ransome Y, Ekström TJ, Karlsson O. Evaluation of Post-Mortem Effects on Global Brain DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2017; 122:208-213. [PMID: 28834189 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The number of epigenetic studies on brain functions and diseases are dramatically increasing, but little is known about the impact of post-mortem intervals and post-sampling effects on DNA modifications such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Here, we examined post-mortem-induced changes in global brain 5mC and 5hmC levels at post-mortem intervals up to 540 min., and studied effects of tissue heat stabilization, using LUMA and ELISA. The global 5mC and 5hmC levels were generally higher in the cerebellum of adult rats than neonates. When measured by ELISA, the global 5mC content in adults, but not neonates, decreased with the post-mortem interval reaching a significantly lower level in cerebellum tissue at the post-mortem interval 540 min. (2.9 ± 0.7%; mean ± S.E.M.) compared to control (3.7 ± 0.6%). The global 5hmC levels increased with post-mortem interval reaching a significantly higher level at 540 min. (0.29 ± 0.06%) compared to control (0.19 ± 0.03%). This suggests that the post-mortem interval may confound 5mC and 5hmC analysis in human brain tissues as the post-mortem handling could vary substantially. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in cerebellum also increased over time, in particular in adults, and may be part of the mechanism that causes the observed post-mortem changes in 5mC and 5hmC. The global 5mC and 5hmC states were unaffected by heat stabilization, allowing analysis of tissues that are stabilized to preserve more labile analytes. Further studies in human samples are needed to confirm post-mortem effects on DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation and elucidate details of the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise K Sjöholm
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yusuf Ransome
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomas J Ekström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oskar Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Müller-Ladner U, Neumann E. Editorial: Tumor Necrosis Factor-Transgenic Mice: Close Enough to Human Epigenetics? Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 69:1512-1516. [DOI: 10.1002/art.40125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulf Müller-Ladner
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Kerckhoff Klinik; Bad Nauheim Germany
| | - Elena Neumann
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Kerckhoff Klinik; Bad Nauheim Germany
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20
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Gomez-Cabrero D, Tegnér J, Ekström TJ, Ospelt C. Comment on "Epigenetics in the pathogenesis of RA". Semin Immunopathol 2017; 39:421-422. [PMID: 28497351 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-017-0638-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Gomez-Cabrero
- Center of Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesper Tegnér
- Center of Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas J Ekström
- Center of Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Ospelt
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Wagistrasse 14, 8952 Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
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21
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Generali E, Ceribelli A, Stazi MA, Selmi C. Lessons learned from twins in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. J Autoimmun 2017; 83:51-61. [PMID: 28431796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmunity and chronic inflammation recognize numerous shared factors and, as a result, the resulting diseases frequently coexist in the same patients or respond to the same treatments. Among the convenient truths of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, there is now agreement that these are complex conditions in which the individual genetic predisposition provides a rate of heritability. The concordance rates in monozygotic and dizygotic twins allows to estimate the weight of the environment in determining disease susceptibility, despite recent data supporting that only a minority of immune markers depend on hereditary factors. Concordance rates in monozygotic and dizygotic twins should be evaluated over an observation period to minimize the risk of false negatives and this is well represented by type I diabetes mellitus. Further, concordance rates in monozygotic twins should be compared to those in dizygotic twins, which share 50% of their genes, as in regular siblings, but also young-age environmental factors. Twin studies have been extensively performed in several autoimmune conditions and cumulatively suggest that some diseases, i.e. celiac disease and psoriasis, are highly genetically determined, while rheumatoid arthritis or systemic sclerosis have a limited role for genetics. These observations are necessary to interpret data gathered by genome-wide association studies of polymorphisms and DNA methylation in MZ twins. New high-throughput technological platforms are awaited to provide new insights into the mechanisms of disease discordance in twins beyond strong associations such as those with HLA alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Generali
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Ceribelli
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Stazi
- Italian Twin Registry, Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Selmi
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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22
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Ospelt C, Gay S, Klein K. Epigenetics in the pathogenesis of RA. Semin Immunopathol 2017; 39:409-419. [DOI: 10.1007/s00281-017-0621-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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