Epigenetic regulation in aging and gastric cancer

Objetivos: O processo de envelhecimento e a maioria das neoplasias podem ser regulados por alterações epigenéticas, dentre elas a metilação do DNA. Este estudo tem como objetivos: a) analisar a frequência de metilação dos promotores dos genes SIRT1; SIRT3, hTERT, SMARCA5, CDH1, IGFBP3, CAV-1 no envelhecimento e no adenocarcinoma gástrico; b) avaliar a expressão das proteínas codificadas desses genes em tecidos gástricos tumoral e normal; c) associar resultados com dados clinicopatológicos da amostra. Métodos: A frequência de metilação desses genes foi analisada por PCR metilação-específica (MS-PCR) em amostras de linfócitos de jovens e idosos, bem como em adenocarcinoma gástrico e margens normais. A análise da expressão protéica foi realizada por imunoistoquímica. Resultados: Os promotores dos genes SIRT1 e IGFBP-3 apresentaram maior metilação em idosos, quando comparado ao grupo jovem. Além disso, dentre os sete genes estudados, cerca de 85% dos idosos apresentaram quatro ou mais desses genes hipermetilados, enquanto que entre jovens mais de 50% apresentou até três genes metilados (p=0,001). A proteína SIRT1 apresentou uma expressão seis vezes maior em tumores do que em tecido não neoplásico (p=0,0003), já SIRT3 apresentou maior expressão em tecido não neoplásico do que em tumoral (OR=0,313; p=0,005). SIRT3 encontrou-se mais frequentemente hipermetilado quando não havia expressão de sua proteína (p=0,0019). O gene hTERT apresentou-se mais frequentemente hipermetilado em amostras tumorais (p=0,0002) e sua expressão protéica foi observada somente em tumores (p<0,0001). SMARCA5 apresentou maior expressão no tecido neoplásico quando comparado com a margem do tecido gástrico (p<0,001) e a expressão de sua proteína estava associada à ausência de metilação do promotor gênico (p=0,0104). Caveolina-1 também foi mais frequentemente observada em tumores quando comparada ao não neoplásico (p<0,0001), principalmente no tipo intestinal (P=0,0008). A metilação do promotor do gene CAV1 foi associada à ausência de expressão em amostras tumorais (p=0,0001). Para IGFBP-3, foi observado ainda maior expressão em tumores do que em tecido não neoplásico (p<0,0001). CDH1 estava presente em 100% das amostras de tecido não neoplásico, diferindo do tumoral (p<0,0001). Conclusões: No processo do envelhecimento natural, ocorre um aumento da metilação em promotores de genes específicos com a idade, que pode influenciar a expressão gênica. Além disso, no câncer gástrico, as proteínas SIRT1, hTERT, SMARCA5, CDH1, IGFBP-3 e CAV1 apresentaram uma maior expressão, podendo configurar bons biomarcadores e possíveis alvos terapêuticos. SIRT3 foi a única proteína com função protetora contra esse tipo tumoral. A regulação epigenética pela metilação do DNA parece ocorrer em tecido gástrico somente para os genes SIRT3, SMARCA5 e CAV1, porém a análise da metilação dos genes hTERT e CDH1 também pode servir como marcador para a neoplasia estudada.TEDEBV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

Regulation of impulsive and aggressive behaviours by a novel lncRNA

14 páginas, 5 figuras. a través de PubMed Central se puede consultar: versión post-print e información suplementaria: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7436429/pdf/nihms-1604033.pdfHigh impulsive and aggressive traits associate with poor behavioural self-control. Despite their importance in predicting behavioural negative outcomes including suicide, the molecular mechanisms underlying the expression of impulsive and aggressive traits remain poorly understood. Here, we identified and characterized a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), acting as a regulator of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene in the brain, and named it MAOA-associated lncRNA (MAALIN). Our results show that in the brain of suicide completers, MAALIN is regulated by a combination of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation and chromatin modifications. Elevated MAALIN in the dentate gyrus of impulsive-aggressive suicides was associated with lower MAOA expression. Viral overexpression of MAALIN in neuroprogenitor cells decreased MAOA expression while CRISPR-mediated knock out resulted in elevated MAOA expression. Using viral-mediated gene transfer, we confirmed that MAALIN in the hippocampus significantly decreases MAOA expression and exacerbates the expression of impulsive-aggressive behavioural traits in CD1 aggressive mice. Overall, our findings suggest that variations in DNA methylation mediate the differential expression of a novel lncRNA that acts on MAOA expression to regulate impulsive-aggressive behaviours.GT holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) and a NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Award. He is supported by grants from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) (FDN148374 and EGM141899), by the FRQS through the Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders. BL holds a Sentinelle Nord Research Chair, is supported by a NARSAD young investigator award, a CIHR (SVB397205) and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC; RGPIN-2019-06496) grants and receives FRQS Junior-1 salary support; this work was also made possible by resources supported by the Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders.Peer reviewe

Mosaic copy number variation in schizophrenia

Recent reports suggest that somatic structural changes occur in the human genome, but how these genomic alterations might contribute to disease is unknown. Using samples collected as part of the International Schizophrenia Consortium (schizophrenia, n=3518; control, n=4238) recruited across multiple university research centers, we assessed single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping arrays for evidence of chromosomal anomalies. Data from genotyping arrays on each individual were processed using Birdsuite and analyzed with PLINK. We validated potential chromosomal anomalies using custom nanostring probes and quantitative PCR. We estimate chromosomal alterations in the schizophrenia population to be 0.42%, which is not significantly different from controls (0.26%). We identified and validated a set of four extremely large (>10 Mb) chromosomal anomalies in subjects with schizophrenia, including a chromosome 8 trisomy and deletion of the q arm of chromosome 7. These data demonstrate that chromosomal anomalies are present at low frequency in blood cells of both control and schizophrenia subjects

Non-Coding RNAs and Wnt/&beta;-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Gastric Cancer: From EMT to Drug Resistance

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The treatment of GC patients improved due to advancements in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the long-term survival rate of patients with gastric cancer remains around 20%. Thus, development of novel therapeutic approaches is of great interest, in order to reduce the need for mutilating surgeries and morbid adjuvant therapies. For many years, it was believed that the RNA was a mere intermediate molecule in the genetic information flow. However, during the past decades, with the advent of new sequencing technologies, it was revealed that non-coding RNAs play important roles in many different biological processes. The Wnt/&beta;-catenin signaling pathway has been reported to regulate crucial events during neoplasic development, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. In this review, we will focus on microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs that have been implicated in gastric cancer tumorigenesis via modulation of the Wnt/&beta;-catenin signaling pathway, which provided some biomarkers to prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy

DNA and histone methylation in gastric carcinogenesis

Epigenetic alterations contribute significantly to the development and progression of gastric cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Epigenetics refers to the number of modifications of the chromatin structure that affect gene expression without altering the primary sequence of DNA, and these changes lead to transcriptional activation or silencing of the gene. Over the years, the study of epigenetic processes has increased, and novel therapeutic approaches that target DNA methylation and histone modifications have emerged. A greater understanding of epigenetics and the therapeutic potential of manipulating these processes is necessary for gastric cancer treatment. Here, we review recent research on the effects of aberrant DNA and histone methylation on the onset and progression of gastric tumors and the development of compounds that target enzymes that regulate the epigenome. (C) 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Para, Lab Human Cytogenet, Inst Biol Sci, BR-66075110 Belem, Para, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/07145-9FAPESP: 2010/11174-1Web of Scienc

Epigenetic mechanisms in gastric cancer

Cancer is considered one of the major health issues worldwide, and gastric cancer accounted for 8% of total cases and 10% of total deaths in 2008. Gastric cancer is considered an age-related disease, and the total number of newly diagnosed cases has been increasing as a result of the higher life expectancy. Therefore, the basic mechanisms underlying gastric tumorigenesis is worth investigation. This review provides an overview of the epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling complex and miRNA, involved in gastric cancer. As the studies in gastric cancer continue, the mapping of an epigenome code is not far for this disease. in conclusion, an epigenetic therapy might appear in the not too distant future.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Genet, Dept Morfol & Genet, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Para, Lab Citogenet Humana, Inst Ciencias Biol, BR-66059 Belem, PA, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Genet, Dept Morfol & Genet, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/07145-9Web of Scienc

The Complex Network between MYC Oncogene and microRNAs in Gastric Cancer: An Overview

Despite the advancements in cancer treatments, gastric cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In this context, it is of great interest to discover new and more effective ways of treating this disease. Accumulated evidences have demonstrated the amplification of 8q24.21 region in gastric tumors. Furthermore, this is the region where the widely known MYC oncogene and different microRNAs are located. MYC deregulation is key in tumorigenesis in various types of tissues, once it is associated with cell proliferation, survival, and drug resistance. microRNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate the protein translation, and which deregulation is related with gastric cancer development. However, little is understood about the interactions between microRNAs and MYC. Here, we overview the MYC role and its relationship with the microRNAs network in gastric cancer aiming to identify potential targets useful to be used in clinic, not only as biomarkers, but also as molecules for development of promising therapies