Acute high folic acid treatment in SH-SY5Y cells with and without MTHFR function leads to gene expression changes in epigenetic modifying enzymes, changes in epigenetic marks, and changes in dendritic spine densities

Folate-mediated transgenerational inheritance of sperm DNA methylation patterns correlate with spinal axon regeneration

In mammals, the molecular mechanisms underlying transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic traits in serial generations of progeny after ancestral environmental exposures, without variation in DNA sequence, remain elusive. We've recently described transmission of a beneficial trait in rats and mice, in which F0 supplementation of methyl donors, including folic acid, generates enhanced axon regeneration after sharp spinal cord injury in untreated F1 to F3 progeny linked to differential DNA methylation levels in spinal cord tissue. To test whether the transgenerational effect of folic acid is transmitted via the germline, we performed whole-genome methylation sequencing on sperm DNA from F0 mice treated with either folic acid or vehicle control, and their F1, F2, and F3 untreated progeny. Transgenerational differentially methylated regions (DMRs) are observed in each consecutive generation and distinguish folic acid from untreated lineages, predominate outside of CpG islands and in regions of the genome that regulate gene expression, including promoters, and overlap at both the differentially methylated position (DMP) and gene levels. These findings indicate that molecular changes between generations are caused by ancestral folate supplementation. In addition, 29,719 DMPs exhibit serial increases or decreases in DNA methylation levels in successive generations of untreated offspring, correlating with a serial increase in the phenotype across generations, consistent with a 'wash-in' effect. Sibship-specific DMPs annotate to genes that participate in axon- and synapse-related pathways.

One-carbon metabolism shapes T cell immunity in cancer

One-carbon metabolism (1CM), comprising folate metabolism and methionine metabolism, serves as an important mechanism for cellular energy provision and the production of vital signaling molecules, including single-carbon moieties. Its regulation is instrumental in sustaining the proliferation of cancer cells and facilitating metastasis; in addition, recent research has shed light on its impact on the efficacy of T cell-mediated immunotherapy. In this review, we consolidate current insights into how 1CM affects T cell activation, differentiation, and functionality. Furthermore, we delve into the strategies for modulating 1CM in both T cells and tumor cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells, overcome metabolic challenges in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and maximize the benefits of T cell-mediated immunotherapy.

Future Prospects for Epigenetics in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Despite decades of investigation into the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a current consensus in the field persists that ASD risk is too heterogeneous to be diagnosed by a single set of genetic variants. As such, ASD research has broadened to include assessment of other molecular biomarkers implicated in the condition that may be reflective of environmental exposures or gene by environment interactions. Epigenetic variance, and specifically differential DNA methylation, have emerged as areas of particularly high interest to ASD, as the epigenetic markers from specific chromatin loci collectively can reflect influences of multiple genetic and environmental factors and can also result in differential gene expression patterns. This review examines recent studies of the ASD epigenome, detailing common gene pathways found to be differentially methylated in people with ASD, and considers how these discoveries may inform our understanding of ASD etiology. We also consider future applications of epigenetics in ASD research and clinical practice, focusing on substratification, biomarker development, and experimental preclinical models of ASD that test causality. In combination with other -omics approaches, epigenomics allows an improved conceptualization of the multifactorial nature of ASD, and opens future lines of inquiry for both basic research and clinical practice.

Modification Patterns of DNA Methylation-Related lncRNAs Regulating Genomic Instability for Improving the Clinical Outcomes and Tumour Microenvironment Characterisation of Lower-Grade Gliomas

Background: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that affects genomic instability and regulates gene expression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate gene expression by interacting with chromosomal modifications or remodelling factors. It is urgently needed to evaluate the effects of DNA methylation-related lncRNAs (DMlncRNAs) on genome instability and further investigate the mechanism of action of DMlncRNAs in mediating the progression of lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) and their impact on the immune microenvironment.

Methods: LGG transcriptome data, somatic mutation profiles and clinical features analysed in the present study were obtained from the CGGA, GEO and TCGA databases. Univariate, multivariate Cox and Lasso regression analyses were performed to establish a DMlncRNA signature. The KEGG and GO analyses were performed to screen for pathways and biological functions associated with key genes. The ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were used to determine the level of immune cells in LGGs and the immune microenvironment fraction. In addition, DMlncRNAs were assessed using survival analysis, ROC curves, correlation analysis, external validation, independent prognostic analysis, clinical stratification analysis and qRT-PCR.

Results: We identified five DMlncRNAs with prognostic value for LGGs and established a prognostic signature using them. The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed 10-years survival rate of 10.10% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.27–31.40%] in high-risk patients and 57.28% (95% CI: 43.17–76.00%) in low-risk patients. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of risk scores were 1.013 and 1.009–1.017 (p < 0.001), respectively, based on the univariate Cox regression analysis and 1.009 and 1.004–1.013 (p < 0.001), respectively, based on the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Therefore, the five-lncRNAs were identified as independent prognostic markers for patients with LGGs. Furthermore, GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these lncRNAs are involved in the prognosis and tumorigenesis of LGGs by regulating cancer pathways and DNA methylation.

Conclusion: The findings of the study provide key information regarding the functions of lncRNAs in DNA methylation and reveal that DNA methylation can regulate tumour progression through modulation of the immune microenvironment and genomic instability. The identified prognostic lncRNAs have high potential for clinical grouping of patients with LGGs to ensure effective treatment and management.