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Dottore GR, Lanzolla G, Comi S, Menconi F, Mencacci LC, Dallan I, Marcocci C, Marinò M. Insights into the role of DNA methylation and gene expression in Graves' orbitopathy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 108:e160-e168. [PMID: 36334311 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT A role of DNA methylation in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) has been proposed. Design. To investigate DNA methylation and gene expression in orbital fibroblasts from control and GO patients, under basal conditions or following challenge with an anti-TSH receptor antibody (M22) or cytokines involved in GO; to investigate the relationship between DNA methylation and cell function (proliferation); to perform a methylome analysis. Setting. Referral Center. Materials. Orbital fibroblasts from six GO and six control patients. Intervention. None. Main Outcome Measure. Methylome analysis of the whole genome. Results. Global DNA methylation increased significantly both in control and GO fibroblasts upon incubation with M22. Expression of two selected genes (CYP19A1 and AIFM2) was variably affected by M22 and interleukin-6. M22 increased cell proliferation in control and GO fibroblasts, which correlated with global DNA methylation. Methylome analysis revealed 19,869 DNA regions differently methylated in GO fibroblasts, encompassing 3,957 genes and involving CpG islands, shores and shelves. One-hundred and nineteen gene families and subfamilies, 89 protein groups, 402 biological processes and seven pathways were involved. Three genes found to be differentially expressed were concordantly hyper- or hypomethylated. Among the differently methylated genes, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and several fibroblast growth factors and receptors were included. CONCLUSIONS We propose that, when exposed to an autoimmune environment, orbital fibroblasts undergo hyper- or hypomethylation of certain genes, involving CpG promoters, which results in differential gene expression, which may be responsible for functional alterations, in particular higher proliferation, and ultimately for the GO phenotype in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Rotondo Dottore
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Lanzolla
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Comi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Menconi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lodovica Cristofani Mencacci
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, ENT Unit I, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Italy, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Dallan
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, ENT Unit I, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Italy, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Marcocci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Marinò
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
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