The Potential Role of DNA Methylation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Evan J. Ryer²  Kaitryn E. Ronning³  Robert Erdman³  Charles M. Schworer³  James R. Elmore²  Thomas C. Peeler¹  Christopher D. Nevius³  John H. Lillvis⁵  Robert P. Garvin²  David P. Franklin²  Helena Kuivaniemi³  Gerard Tromp³  Jonathan Golledge⁴ 

[1] Department of Biology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA; E-Mails:;Sigfried and Janet Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA; E-Mails:Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA;;Department of Ophthalmology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: DNA methylation;    AAA;    KLHL35;    CNN2;    SERPINB9;    ADCY10P1;    aortic aneurysm;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160511259

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disorder that has a significant impact on the aging population. While both genetic and environmental risk factors have been implicated in AAA formation, the precise genetic markers involved and the factors influencing their expression remain an area of ongoing investigation. DNA methylation has been previously used to study gene silencing in other inflammatory disorders and since AAA has an extensive inflammatory component, we sought to examine the genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in mononuclear blood cells of AAA cases and matched non-AAA controls. To this end, we collected blood samples and isolated mononuclear cells for DNA and RNA extraction from four all male groups: AAA smokers (n = 11), AAA non-smokers (n = 9), control smokers (n = 10) and control non-smokers (n = 11). Methylation data were obtained using the Illumina 450k Human Methylation Bead Chip and analyzed using the R language and multiple Bioconductor packages. Principal component analysis and linear analysis of CpG island subsets identified four regions with significant differences in methylation with respect to AAA: kelch-like family member 35 (KLHL35), calponin 2 (CNN2), serpin peptidase inhibitor clade B (ovalbumin) member 9 (SERPINB9), and adenylate cyclase 10 pseudogene 1 (ADCY10P1). Follow-up studies included RT-PCR and immunostaining for CNN2 and SERPINB9. These findings are novel and suggest DNA methylation may play a role in AAA pathobiology.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.