scholarly journals Early life DNA methylation profiles are indicative of age-related transcriptome changes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niran Hadad ◽  
Dustin R. Masser ◽  
Laura Blanco-Berdugo ◽  
David R. Stanford ◽  
Willard M. Freeman

AbstractAlterations to cellular and molecular programs with brain aging result in cognitive impairment and susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease. Changes in DNA methylation patterns, an epigenetic modification required for various CNS functions, are observed with aging and can be prevented by anti-aging interventions, but the functional outcomes of altered methylation on transcriptome profiles are poorly understood with brain aging. Integrated analysis of the hippocampal methylome and transcriptome with aging of male and female mice demonstrates that age-related differences in methylation and gene expression are anti-correlated within gene bodies and enhancers, but not promoters. Methylation levels at young age of genes altered with aging are positively associated with age-related expression changes even in the absence of significant changes to methylation with aging, a finding also observed in mouse Alzheimer’s models. DNA methylation patterns established in youth, in combination with other epigenetic marks, are able to predict changes in transcript trajectories with aging. These findings are consistent with the developmental origins of disease hypothesis and indicate that epigenetic variability in early life may explain differences in age-related disease.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niran Hadad ◽  
Dustin R. Masser ◽  
Laura Blanco-Berdugo ◽  
David R. Stanford ◽  
Willard M. Freeman

Abstract Background Alterations to cellular and molecular programs with brain aging result in cognitive impairment and susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease. Changes in DNA methylation patterns, an epigenetic modification required for various CNS functions are observed with brain aging and can be prevented by anti-aging interventions, but the relationship of altered methylation to gene expression is poorly understood. Results Paired analysis of the hippocampal methylome and transcriptome with aging of male and female mice demonstrates that age-related differences in methylation and gene expression are anti-correlated within gene bodies and enhancers. Altered promoter methylation with aging was found to be generally un-related to altered gene expression. A more striking relationship was found between methylation levels at young age and differential gene expression with aging. Highly methylated gene bodies and promoters in early life were associated with age-related increases in gene expression even in the absence of significant methylation changes with aging. As well, low levels of methylation in early life were correlated to decreased expression with aging. This relationship was also observed in genes altered in two mouse Alzheimer’s models. Conclusion DNA methylation patterns established in youth, in combination with other epigenetic marks, were able to accurately predict changes in transcript trajectories with aging. These findings are consistent with the developmental origins of disease hypothesis and indicate that epigenetic variability in early life may explain differences in aging trajectories and age-related disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonidas Chouliaras ◽  
Roy Lardenoije ◽  
Gunter Kenis ◽  
Diego Mastroeni ◽  
Patrick R. Hof ◽  
...  

Abstract Brain aging has been associated with aberrant DNA methylation patterns, and changes in the levels of DNA methylation and associated markers have been observed in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. DNA hydroxymethylation, however, has been sparsely investigated in aging and AD. We have previously reported robust decreases in 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the hippocampus of AD patients compared to non-demented controls. In the present study, we investigated 3- and 9-month-old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic and wild-type mice for possible age-related alterations in 5-mC and 5-hmC levels in three hippocampal sub-regions using quantitative immunohistochemistry. While age-related increases in levels of both 5-mC and 5-hmC were found in wild-type mice, APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice showed decreased levels of 5-mC at 9 months of age and no age-related changes in 5-hmC throughout the hippocampus. Altogether, these findings suggest that aberrant amyloid processing impact on the balance between DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in the hippocampus during aging in mice.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Kirsten Niles ◽  
Sophie La Salle ◽  
Christopher Oakes ◽  
Jacquetta Trasler

Background: DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification involved in gene expression, genome stability, and genomic imprinting. In the male, methylation patterns are initially erased in primordial germ cells (PGCs) as they enter the gonadal ridge; methylation patterns are then acquired on CpG dinucleotides during gametogenesis. Correct pattern establishment is essential for normal spermatogenesis. To date, the characterization and timing of methylation pattern acquisition in PGCs has been described using a limited number of specific gene loci. This study aimed to describe DNA methylation pattern establishment dynamics during male gametogenesis through global methylation profiling techniques in a mouse model. Methods: Using a chromosome based approach, primers were designed for 24 regions spanning chromosome 9; intergenic, non-repeat, non-CpG island sequences were chosen for study based on previous evidence that these types of sequences are targets for testis-specific methylation events. The percent methylation was determined in each region by quantitative analysis of DNA methylation using real-time PCR (qAMP). The germ cell-specific pattern was determined by comparing methylation between spermatozoa and liver. To examine methylation in developing germ cells, spermatogonia from 2 day- and 6 day-old Oct4-GFP (green fluorescent protein) mice were isolated using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Results: As compared to liver, four loci were hypomethylated and five loci were hypermethylated in spermatozoa, supporting previous results indicating a unique methylation pattern in male germ cells. Only one region was hypomethylated and no regions were hypermethylated in day 6 spermatogonia as compared to mature spermatozoa, signifying that the bulk of DNA methylation is established prior to type A spermatogonia. The methylation in day 2 spermatogonia, germ cells that are just commencing mitosis, revealed differences of 15-20% compared to day 6 spermatogonia at five regions indicating that the most crucial phase of DNA methylation acquisition occurs prenatally. Conclusion: Together, these studies provide further evidence that germ cell methylation patterns differ from those in somatic tissues and suggest that much of methylation at intergenic sites is acquired during prenatal germ cell development. (Supported by CIHR)


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Hernando-Herraez ◽  
Holger Heyn ◽  
Marcos Fernandez-Callejo ◽  
Enrique Vidal ◽  
Hugo Fernandez-Bellon ◽  
...  

DNA methylation is a key regulatory mechanism in mammalian genomes. Despite the increasing knowledge about this epigenetic modification, the understanding of human epigenome evolution is in its infancy. We used whole genome bisulfite sequencing to study DNA methylation and nucleotide divergence between human and great apes. We identified 360 and 210 differentially hypo- and hypermethylated regions (DMRs) in humans compared to non-human primates and estimated that 20% and 36% of these regions, respectively, were detectable throughout several human tissues. Human DMRs were enriched for specific histone modifications and contrary to expectations, the majority were located distal to transcription start sites, highlighting the importance of regions outside the direct regulatory context. We also found a significant excess of endogenous retrovirus elements in human-specific hypomethylated regions suggesting their association with local epigenetic changes. We also reported for the first time a close interplay between inter-species genetic and epigenetic variation in regions of incomplete lineage sorting, transcription factor binding sites and human differentially hypermethylated regions. Specifically, we observed an excess of human-specific substitutions in transcription factor binding sites located within human DMRs, suggesting that alteration of regulatory motifs underlies some human-specific methylation patterns. We also found that the acquisition of DNA hypermethylation in the human lineage is frequently coupled with a rapid evolution at nucleotide level in the neighborhood of these CpG sites. Taken together, our results reveal new insights into the mechanistic basis of human-specific DNA methylation patterns and the interpretation of inter-species non-coding variation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Busto-Moner ◽  
Julien Morival ◽  
Arjang Fahim ◽  
Zachary Reitz ◽  
Timothy L. Downing ◽  
...  

AbstractDNA methylation is a heritable epigenetic modification that plays an essential role in mammalian development. Genomic methylation patterns are dynamically maintained, with DNA methyltransferases mediating inheritance of methyl marks onto nascent DNA over cycles of replication. A recently developed experimental technique employing immunoprecipitation of bromodeoxyuridine labeled nascent DNA followed by bisulfite sequencing (Repli-BS) measures post-replication temporal evolution of cytosine methylation, thus enabling genome-wide monitoring of methylation maintenance. In this work, we combine statistical analysis and stochastic mathematical modeling to analyze Repli-BS data from human embryonic stem cells. We estimate site-specific kinetic rate constants for the restoration of methyl marks on >10 million uniquely mapped cytosines within the CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) dinucleotide context across the genome using Maximum Likelihood Estimation. We find that post-replication remethylation rate constants span approximately two orders of magnitude, with half-lives of per-site recovery of steady-state methylation levels ranging from shorter than ten minutes to five hours and longer. Furthermore, we find that kinetic constants of maintenance methylation are correlated among neighboring CpG sites. Stochastic mathematical modeling provides insight to the biological mechanisms underlying the inference results, suggesting that enzyme processivity and/or collaboration can produce the observed kinetic correlations. Our combined statistical/mathematical modeling approach expands the utility of genomic datasets and disentangles heterogeneity in methylation patterns arising from replication-associated temporal dynamics versus stable cell-to-cell differences.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Bartels ◽  
Qiang Han ◽  
Pooja Nair ◽  
Liam Stacey ◽  
Hannah Gaynier ◽  
...  

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification required for transposable element (TE) silencing, genome stability, and genomic imprinting. Although DNA methylation has been intensively studied, the dynamic nature of methylation among different species has just begun to be understood. Here we summarize the recent progress in research on the wide variation of DNA methylation in different plants, organs, tissues, and cells; dynamic changes of methylation are also reported during plant growth and development as well as changes in response to environmental stresses. Overall DNA methylation is quite diverse among species, and it occurs in CG, CHG, and CHH (H = A, C, or T) contexts of genes and TEs in angiosperms. Moderately expressed genes are most likely methylated in gene bodies. Methylation levels decrease significantly just upstream of the transcription start site and around transcription termination sites; its levels in the promoter are inversely correlated with the expression of some genes in plants. Methylation can be altered by different environmental stimuli such as pathogens and abiotic stresses. It is likely that methylation existed in the common eukaryotic ancestor before fungi, plants and animals diverged during evolution. In summary, DNA methylation patterns in angiosperms are complex, dynamic, and an integral part of genome diversity after millions of years of evolution.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terisha Ghazi ◽  
Thilona Arumugam ◽  
Ashmika Foolchand ◽  
Anil A. Chuturgoon

Cancer initiation and progression is an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation is a common epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression, and aberrant DNA methylation patterns are considered a hallmark of cancer. The human diet is a source of micronutrients, bioactive molecules, and mycotoxins that have the ability to alter DNA methylation patterns and are thus a contributing factor for both the prevention and onset of cancer. Micronutrients such as betaine, choline, folate, and methionine serve as cofactors or methyl donors for one-carbon metabolism and other DNA methylation reactions. Dietary bioactive compounds such as curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, and sulforaphane reactivate essential tumor suppressor genes by reversing aberrant DNA methylation patterns, and therefore, they have shown potential against various cancers. In contrast, fungi-contaminated agricultural foods are a source of potent mycotoxins that induce carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the existing literature on dietary micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and food-borne mycotoxins that affect DNA methylation patterns and identify their potential in the onset and treatment of cancer.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Zardo ◽  
Anna Reale ◽  
Giovanna De Matteis ◽  
Serena Buontempo ◽  
Paola Caiafa

The aberrant DNA methylation of promoter regions of housekeeping genes leads to gene silencing. Additional epigenetic events, such as histone methylation and acetylation, also play a very important role in the definitive repression of gene expression by DNA methylation. If the aberrant DNA methylation of promoter regions is the starting or the secondary event leading to the gene silencing is still debated. Mechanisms controlling DNA methylation patterns do exist although they have not been ultimately proven. Our data suggest that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation might be part of this control mechanism. Thus an additional epigenetic modification seems to be involved in maintaining tissue and cell-type methylation patterns that when formed during embryo development, have to be rigorously conserved in adult organisms.Key words: DNA methylation, chromatin, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Hop ◽  
René Luijk ◽  
Lucia Daxinger ◽  
Maarten van Iterson ◽  
Koen F. Dekkers ◽  
...  

SUMMARYDNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification in human development and disease, yet there is limited understanding of its highly coordinated regulation. Here, we identified 818 genes that influence DNA methylation patterns in blood using large-scale population genomics data. By employing genetic instruments as causal anchors, we identified directed associations between gene expression and distant DNA methylation levels, whilst ensuring specificity of the associations by correcting for linkage disequilibrium and pleiotropy among neighboring genes. We found that DNA methylation patterns are commonly shaped by transcription factors that consistently increase or decrease DNA methylation levels. However, we also observed genes encoding proteins without DNA binding activity with widespread effects on DNA methylation (e.g. NFKBIE, CDCA7(L) and NLRC5) and we suggest plausible mechanisms underlying these findings. Many of the reported genes were unknown to influence DNA methylation, resulting in a comprehensive resource providing insights in the principles underlying epigenetic regulation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuqin Bao ◽  
Yangjin Zuo ◽  
Diyu Chen ◽  
Cunyou Zhao

Abstract Background Reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) holds a therapeutic target for β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Although many HbF regulators have been identified, the methylation patterns in β-globin cluster driving the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch remains to be determined. Results Here, we evaluated DNA methylation patterns of the β-globin cluster from peripheral bloods of 105 β0/β0 thalassemia patients and 44 normal controls. We also recruited 15 bone marrows and 4 cord blood samples for further evaluation. We identified that the CpG sites in the locus control region (LCR) DNase I hypersensitive site 4 and 3 (HS4-3) regions, and γ- and β-globin promoters displayed hypomethylation in β0/β0-thalassemia patients, especially for the patients with high HbF level, as compared with normal controls. Furthermore, hypomethylations in most of CpG sites of the HS4-3 core regions were also observed in bone marrows (BM) of β0/β0-patients compared with normal controls; and methylation level of γ-globin promoter -50 and + 17 CpG sites showed lower methylation level in patients with high HbF level compared with those with low HbF level and a negative correlation with HbF level among β0-thalassemia patients. Finally, γ-globin promoter + 17 and + 50 CpG sites also displayed significant hypomethylation in cord blood (CB) tissues compared with BM tissues from normal controls. Conclusions Our findings revealed methylation patterns in β-globin cluster associated with β0 thalassemia disease and γ-globin expression, contributed to understand the epigenetic modification in β0 thalassemia patients and provided candidate targets for the therapies of β-hemoglobinopathies.


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