Effect of DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region on hepatic injury induced by homocysteine

AIM: To explore the role of DNA methylation of microRNA-30a-5p(miR-30a-5p) promoter region in hepatic injury. METHODS: Four-week-old normal mice and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) single gene knockout mice were used and divided into normal (CBS^+/+, n=12) group and single gene knockout (CBS^+/-, n=12) group, and the mice were fed with high methionine diet for 8 weeks. HL-7702 hepatic cells were routinely cultured in vitro and divided into control group, homocysteine (Hcy) group and Hcy+5-azacytidne (AZC) group. Serum Hcy, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of ALT and AST in the cells culture medium were determined by the microplate method. Hepatic injury in the mice were observed with HE staining. Cell viability staining was used to measure the viability of hepatocytes. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues and hepatocytes. The correlation between the expression of miR-30a-5p and serum ALT and AST levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. DNA methylation level of miR-30a-5p promoter region in the liver tissues and hepatocytes was detected by nested landing methylation-specific PCR (nMS-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the CBS^+/+ mice, the serum levels of Hcy, ALT and AST in the CBS^+/- mice were significantly increased (P < 0.05). HE staining showed the hepatocyte swelling and nuclear fragmentation and dissolution. The expression level of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues was decreased (P < 0.01). Besides, the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the mice was negatively correlated with serum ALT and AST levels (r²=0.4557, P=0.0003, r²=0.4626, P=0.0003), and the DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01). In the HL-7702 cells, compared with control group,the ALT and AST levels were increased in Hcy group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the cell viability was remarkablely decreased. DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01), which decreased after treated the cells with AZC (P < 0.05), while the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the cells was increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region may play an important role in hepatic injury.     

红富士苹果芽变系DNA甲基化研究

以35份富士苹果(Malus×domestica Borkh.‘Fuji’)芽变材料为试材,利用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism,MSAP)分析和UPGMA聚类方法,对其基因组甲基化修饰水平、变异模式以及表观遗传变异关系进行研究。结果表明:(1)不同富士系得到不同的MSAP扩增,总DNA甲基化水平27.90%～36.16%,平均32.87%,双链全甲基化为主要甲基化方式;(2)富士芽变材料绝大多数位点保持了原有甲基化模式;(3)绝大多数芽变(68.57%)检测到全部的甲基化变异模式(12种),去甲基化频率极显著高于甲基化频率(P 0.01),且CG去甲基化极显著高于CHG;(4)36份种质遗传相似系数平均值0.89(0.79～0.92),在聚类图上,富士原种分布在芽变系集中区外,新近发生的芽变系更倾向于聚在一起,着色系片红型和条红型芽变呈分散排布状态。总的来看,富士芽变的甲基化变异模式丰富,超甲基化和去甲基化相伴发生,但以去甲基化为主;‘富士’着色芽变与其最原始品种富士,以及芽变之间发生了较大表观遗传变异;片红和条红型芽变聚类未表现明显偏好性。本研究将为进一步开展富士着色系芽变机理研究提供指导,可以CG去甲基化为切入点展开深入研究。     

大豆对大豆胞囊线虫侵染的应答机制研究

大豆胞囊线虫病(Heterodera glycines,soybean cyst nematode,SCN)是大豆生产上的重要病害,其特点为危害重、分布广、难防治,每年对大豆生产造成极大的损失。种植大豆抗性新品种是防治SCN目前最为有效的措施,研究大豆对SCN侵染的应答机制,是培育大豆持久抗病品种的前提,对加快抗线虫品种选育及SCN的防控具有重要的意义。本文综述了大豆对SCN侵染的组织细胞学应答机制;介绍了大豆在SCN侵染后酶系变化及酚类代谢的生理生化应答机制;从分子水平阐明了SCN侵染后大豆的基因转录变化,差异蛋白及DNA甲基化的应答机制,以期为大豆胞囊线虫病害的进一步研究与防治提供参考。     

植物DNA甲基化研究进展

植物经常暴露在各种生物和非生物的胁迫之下,这些胁迫会影响植物的生长发育和繁殖并最终导致植物死亡。为了抵御不利的环境条件,植物已经进化出复杂而精细的网络来感知胁迫并激活防御系统。为此,植物激活许多信号转导通路,这些信号转导通路可以改变一些胁迫响应基因的表达,从而引起植物形态、生理和生化的改变以适应逆境。DNA胞嘧啶甲基化是高等真核生物的主要表观遗传机制之一,在维持基因组稳定性和调节基因表达方面起着关键作用。表观遗传变异比遗传变异更为灵活。一旦环境条件发生变化,为了适应新的环境植物都会发生表观遗传的改变。许多研究表明DNA甲基化参与植物的发育和应激反应。基于相关研究对DNA甲基化进行了综述,对植物逆境胁迫有重要意义。     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and fungivorous nematodes on the growth and arsenic uptake of tobacco in arsenic-contaminated soils

The effects of inoculation with two AM fungi (M1, Glomus caledonium; M2, Glomus spp. and Acaulospora spp.) and a fungivorous nematode Aphelenchoides sp. on growth and arsenic (As) uptake of Nicotiana tabacum L. were investigated in soils contaminated with a range of As. The reproduction of Aphelenchoides sp. was triggered by the co-inoculation of AM fungi regardless of AM fungal isolates and As levels. Stimulative effects of Aphelenchoides sp. on the development of mycorrhiza, slightly different between two AM fungi, were found particularly at the lowest As level. Irrespective of mycorrhizal inoculi, increasing soil As level decreased plant growth, but increased plant As uptake. Co-inoculation of AM fungi and Aphelenchoides sp. led plants to achieving further growth and greater As accumulation at the lowest As level. Results showed that the interactions between AM fungi and fungivorous nematodes were important in plant As tolerance and phytoextraction at low level As-polluted soil.     

Methylation of free-floating deoxyribonucleic acid fragments in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of dogs with chronic bronchitis exposed to environmental tobacco smoke

Background

The etiology of canine chronic bronchitis (CB) is not completely understood, although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the airway inflammatory responses in some dogs with CB. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.

Findings

We investigated the concentrations and methylation rates of free-floating DNA fragments in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from dogs with chronic bronchitis. Based on serum cotinine levels, dogs with CB were divided into 2 groups: dogs that either had or had not been exposed to ETS. Our results demonstrated that the total nucleated cell and macrophage numbers increased in BALF of ETS-exposed dogs with CB. There were no significant differences in DNA concentrations and methylation rates in BALF between the 2 groups. However, 3 out of 8 dogs exposed to ETS had high DNA methylation rates in their BALF samples.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that ETS exposure leads to epigenetic modifications of cellular components in BALF in dogs diagnosed with CB.     

Association between methylation status of apoptosis-related genes and chemosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cell line P15

AIM: To investigate the association between methylation status of apoptosis-related genes and chemosensitivity in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line P15.METHODS: Methylation-specific PCR was applied to detect the methylation status of p73, p14^ARF, p16^INK4a and bax genes of P15 cells in untreated control group and decitabine (DAC) treatment group. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of p73, bcl-xL, bad, bax, p14^ARF and p16^INK4a at mRNA level. Colony formation assay and cell growth inhibition assay were used to detect the sensitivity of P15 cells to cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (C-DDP) before and after DAC treatment. DAPI staining was used to determine the apoptosis of P15 cells exposed to C-DDP before and after DAC treatment. RESULTS: p73, p16^INK4a and bax were expressed in the methylation status. After DAC treatment, p16^INK4a expression was decreased, and the expression of p73 and bax disappeared. The expression of p73, p16^INK4a and bax in the unmethylated status was weak, but the enhanced expression was observed following DAC treatment. After P15 cells were treated with DAC and C-DDP, the colony formation rate of the P15 cells was significantly decreased as compared with untreated control group. The apoptotic P15 cells in DAC+C-DDP treatment group were significantly higher than those in untreated control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After treated with DAC, the sensitivity of P15 cells to C-DDP is increased due to the activation of silenced pro-apoptotic genes. DAC and C-DDP synergistically promote tumor cell apoptosis. They have significant anti-tumor effect.     

不同地理群体三疣梭子蟹mtDNA本底甲基化水平分析

利用重亚硫酸盐测序法,对适于三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)线粒体基因组甲基化分析的BSP(Bisulfite sequencing PCR)引物进行了筛选,在设计的21对引物中,获得了12对BSP引物。利用这12对引物分析了三疣梭子蟹海州湾群体(江苏连云港)和莱州湾群体(山东东营)线粒体基因组本底甲基化水平,结果表明:海州湾群体不存在甲基化现象,莱州湾群体发现了2个个体在ND2基因(NADH脱氢酶亚基2)位点存在甲基化现象;在存在甲基化的个体中,甲基化类型主要为CHG和CHH类型,还有少量Cp G类型。该研究结果说明,莱州湾群体和海州湾群体线粒体基因组本底水平上的甲基化特征存在一定差异,相关研究值得进一步深入探讨。     

利用 HPLC 分析菠萝愈伤组织 DNA 甲基化水平

建立菠萝 DNA 甲基化水平的 HPLC 测定方法，分析菠萝愈伤组织 DNA 甲基化水平变化，为进一步研究菠萝 体细胞无性系变异机理奠定基础。通过对流动相和水解温度等条件的优化，建立菠萝 DNA 甲基化水平的检测方法。结 果表明，分离 C 和 5m-C 的最佳流动相为甲醇∶磷酸二氢钾∶三乙胺为 10∶90∶0.2（V/V），pH 3.0，DNA 的最佳水解 温度为 90 ℃。利用此体系分析菠萝愈伤组织和胚性愈伤组织的 DNA 甲基化变化，结果表明，菠萝愈伤组织在分化过 程中 DNA 总甲基化水平呈动态变化，变化范围为 5.14%~96.86%。此外，胚性愈伤组织甲基化水平低于非胚性愈伤组 织。推测 DNA 甲基化影响菠萝愈伤组织的分化及胚性愈伤组织的形成。     

Effects of histone hypomethylation induced by alcohol during pregnancy on overexpression of cardiomyogenesis genes offspring mice

AIM:To investigate the effects of histone methylation on the abnormal expression of cardiomyogenesis genes caused by alcohol during pregnancy and the regulatory mechanism, and to provide a new idea and intervention targets for preventing and curing congenital heart disease. METHODS:The alcohol (56%, 5 mL/kg) and G9a-histone methyltransferases (HMT) inhibitor BRD4770 (1 mg/kg) were given by gavage in Kunming mice during embryo (E) 0.5~14.5 d, and the hearts of the mice in E14.5, E16.5 and post neonatal 0.5 d (PND0.5) were collected. The mRNA expression of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC genes was detected by RT-qPCR. The activity of HMT was measured by colorimetry. Meanwhile, the protein expression of histone H3K9me3, G9a-HMT, Cx43 and β-MHC was determined by Western blot. RESULTS:The results of colorimetry showed that the activity of HMT in the heart of the offspring mice treated with alcohol during pregnancy was decreased significantly compared with normal saline group (P<0.05), and Western blot data showed that the expression of G9a-HMT and histone H3K9me3 were apparently decreased in the same samples (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC in alcohol group were apparently increased compared with normal saline group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the protein levels of Cx43 and β-MHC were increased significantly in the same samples (P<0.05). However, BRD4770, a G9a-HMT inhibitor, further attenuated the level of histone H3K9me3, and further upregulated the expression of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC in the heart of the the mice treated with alcohol (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Histone methylation modification imbalance induced by G9a-HMT may be involved in the abnormal expression of cardiomyogenesis genes in the heart of offspring mice caused by alcohol during pregnancy.