One year exposure to Cd- and Pb-contaminated soil causes metal accumulation and alteration of global DNA methylation in rats

Abstract Global DNA hypomethylation is observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but methylation has not been correlated with clinical outcome. Although patient survival correlates with factors such as the mutational status of the immunoglobulin variable genes, karyotype abnormalities, Zap-70, and CD38 expression, none of these predictors have altered the way clinicians practice. We report interim results in the assessment of global DNA methylation as a predictor of aggressive disease in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Fourteen patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia donated blood samples for DNA studies at the same time as blooddraws for their physician visits. All the treatments occurred within one year and the follow-ups were at least within 12 months except for one patient. We thus classified patients into two groups: those who required treatment within one year and those who did not. The cutoff in methylation level providing the smallest observed prediction error was 4.125%; it correctly predicted 5/6 patients not needing treatment within a year and 5/6 patients needing treatment. These observed classification rates were adjusted for the bias resulting from the optimal selection of the cutoff using bootstrap. The adjusted sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 80%, respectively. Asymptomatic patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia tended to have lower levels of global DNA methylation (median 3.5%) compared to symptomatic patients (median 4.5%). In other words, high levels of global DNA methylation were associated with higher disease burden, corresponding with higher lymphocyte and white blood cell numbers. Five patients without immediate need for cytoreductive therapy were enrolled on a pilot treatment trial with low-dose cladribine, by subcutaneous injection. Three out of the five patients have had a clinical response, a secondary endpoint. Two of the patients have achieved a partial response, as defined by the NCI sponsored working group, with at least a three month follow-up after discontinuation of the drug. Of the two patients with stable or progressive disease on cladribine, their global DNA methylation levels were higher, correlating with more chemotherapy resistant disease. DNA methylation Levels in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Age Sex %5-MedC Zap-70 CD-38 Rai Stage FISH Req Treatment (mos) FISH= fluorescence in situ hybridization; Zap-70 assessed by immunochemistry 51 M 5.045 positive positive 4 Del13q14 0.75 73 F 4.865 positive not assessed 4 not assessed 12+ 52 F 4.665 positive negative 2 Del13q14 2 57 M 4.62 negative negative 4 Del13q14 2 66 M 4.59 positive not assessed 4 Del13q14 (5/05) and Del 17p and Del 13q14 (7/05) 0.25 67 M 4.14 positive positive 4 Trisomy 12 10 47 M 4.055 negative negative 0 not assessed 12+ 59 M 3.9 negative negative 2 46XY 0 72 M 3.54 negative not assessed 0 not assessed 8+ 64 M 3.55 positive not assessed 1 Del13q14 12+ 70 F 3.47 not assessed negative 4 Trisomy 12 12+ 68 F 3.47 positive negative 2 not assessed 12+ 77 M 3.2 not assessed not assessed 0 not assessed 12+ DNA Methylation Levels in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia DNA Methylation Levels in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

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Global DNA Methylation is influenced by smoking behavior

Pharmacopsychiatry ◽

10.1055/s-2007-991871 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 40 (05) ◽

Author(s):

MAN Muschler ◽

T Hillemacher ◽

H Frieling ◽

S Moskau ◽

A Semmler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Global Dna Methylation

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Oxidative damage, inflammation, genotoxic effect, and global DNA methylation caused by inhalation of formaldehyde and the purpose of melatonin

Toxicology Research ◽

10.1093/toxres/tfaa079 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 778-789

Author(s):

Letícia Bernardini ◽

Eduardo Barbosa ◽

Mariele Feiffer Charão ◽

Gabriela Goethel ◽

Diana Muller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Oxidative Damage ◽

Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Histological Study ◽

Global Dna Methylation ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Global Methylation ◽

Protein Thiols

Abstract Formaldehyde (FA) exposure has been proven to increase the risk of asthma and cancer. This study aimed to evaluate for 28 days the FA inhalation effects on oxidative stress, inflammation process, genotoxicity, and global DNA methylation in mice as well as to investigate the potential protective effects of melatonin. For that, analyses were performed on lung, liver and kidney tissues, blood, and bone marrow. Bronchoalveolar lavage was used to measure inflammatory parameters. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein carbonyl (PCO), non-protein thiols (NPSH), catalase activity (CAT), comet assay, micronuclei (MN), and global methylation were determined. The exposure to 5-ppm FA resulted in oxidative damage to the lung, presenting a significant increase in TBARS and NO levels and a decrease in NPSH levels, besides an increase in inflammatory cells recruited for bronchoalveolar lavage. Likewise, in the liver tissue, the exposure to 5-ppm FA increased TBARS and PCO levels and decreased NPSH levels. In addition, FA significantly induced DNA damage, evidenced by the increase of % tail moment and MN frequency. The pretreatment of mice exposed to FA applying melatonin improved inflammatory and oxidative damage in lung and liver tissues and attenuated MN formation in bone marrow cells. The pulmonary histological study reinforced the results observed in biochemical parameters, demonstrating the potential beneficial role of melatonin. Therefore, our results demonstrated that FA exposure with repeated doses might induce oxidative damage, inflammatory, and genotoxic effects, and melatonin minimized the toxic effects caused by FA inhalation in mice.

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Decreased expression of DNA methyltransferases in the testes of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia leads to changes in global DNA methylation levels

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd18246 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (8) ◽

pp. 1386 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fatma Uysal ◽

Gokhan Akkoyunlu ◽

Saffet Ozturk

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Male Infertility ◽

De Novo ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Testicular Biopsy ◽

Round Spermatid ◽

Dna Methyltransferases ◽

Global Dna Methylation ◽

Obstructive Azoospermia ◽

Spermatogenic Cells

DNA methylation plays key roles in epigenetic regulation during mammalian spermatogenesis. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) function in de novo and maintenance methylation processes by adding a methyl group to the fifth carbon atom of the cytosine residues within cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) and non-CpG dinucleotide sites. Azoospermia is one of the main causes of male infertility, and is classified as obstructive (OA) or non-obstructive (NOA) azoospermia based on histopathological characteristics. The molecular background of NOA is still largely unknown. DNA methylation performed by DNMTs is implicated in the transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis-related genes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cellular localisation and expression levels of the DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B proteins, as well as global DNA methylation profiles in testicular biopsy samples obtained from men with various types of NOA, including hypospermatogenesis (hyposperm), round spermatid (RS) arrest, spermatocyte (SC) arrest and Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome. In the testicular biopsy samples, DNMT1 expression and global DNA methylation levels decreased gradually from the hyposperm to SCO groups (P<0.05). DNMT3A expression was significantly decreased in the RS arrest, SC arrest and SCO groups compared with the hyposperm group (P<0.05). DNMT3B expression was significantly lower in the RS arrest and SCO groups than in the hyposperm group (P<0.05). Although both DNMT1 and DNMT3A were localised in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the spermatogenic cells, staining for DNMT3B was more intensive in the nucleus of spermatogenic cells. In conclusion, the findings suggest that significant changes in DNMT expression and global DNA methylation levels in spermatogenic cells may contribute to development of male infertility in the NOA groups. Further studies are needed to determine the molecular biological effects of the altered DNMT expression and DNA methylation levels on development of male infertility.

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Testicular Dnmt3 expression and global DNA methylation are down-regulated by gonadotropin releasing hormones in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep43158 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yize Zhang ◽

Xin Sun ◽

Lihong Zhang ◽

Weimin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Global Dna Methylation ◽

Monopterus Albus

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Potential effect of tobacco cigarettes smoking on global DNA methylation status and protamines transcripts in human spermatozoa

Middle East Fertility Society Journal ◽

10.1186/s43043-021-00066-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed M. Laqqan ◽

Maged M. Yassin

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Methylation Status ◽

Human Spermatozoa ◽

Global Dna Methylation ◽

Transcription Level ◽

Heavy Smokers ◽

Protamine 1 ◽

Protamine 2

Abstract Background Epigenetics refers to an alteration in gene expression without alteration in the sequence of DNA and this process may be affected by environmental factors and lifestyle like cigarette smoking. This study was designed to evaluate the potential effect of cigarette smoking on the global DNA methylation status and the transcription level of protamine 1 and protamine 2 in human spermatozoa. A total of 188 semen samples were collected from men with a mean age of 34.9 ± 5.8 years old (98 heavy smokers and 90 non-smokers). The DNA and RNA were isolated from purified spermatozoa, then the status of global DNA methylation and the transcription level of protamine 1 and protamine 2 were evaluated using ELISA and qPCR, respectively. The chromatin non-condensation and DNA fragmentation in human spermatozoa were evaluated using chromomycin A3 staining and TUNEL assay, respectively. Results A significant increase has been found in the status of global DNA methylation in spermatozoa of heavy smokers compared to non-smokers (7.69 ± 0.69 ng/μl vs. 4.90 ± 0.40 ng/μl, P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant reduction has been found in transcription level of protamine 1 (25.49 ± 0.31 vs. 23.94 ± 0.40, P < 0.001) and protamine 2 (28.27 ± 0.39 vs. 23.45 ± 0.30, P < 0.001) in heavy smokers. A downregulation has been found in the transcription level of protamine 1 and protamine 2 with a fold change of 0.497 and 0.047, respectively. A significant increase has been shown in the level of DNA fragmentation and chromatin non-condensation in heavy smokers compared to non-smokers (P < 0.001). On the other hand, a significant positive correlation has been found between sperm chromatin non-condensation, sperm DNA fragmentation, transcription level of protamine 1, transcription level of protamine 2, and global DNA methylation status (r = 0.304, P < 0.001; r = 0.399, P < 0.001; r = 0.216, P = 0.003; r = 0.494, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Tobacco cigarette smoking has a potential influence on the global DNA methylation and the transcription level of protamine genes in human spermatozoa, and consequently, affect negatively on the semen parameters.

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