Articles tagged with Dna Methylation
A novel liquid biopsy test can accurately detect cancer DNA in the blood of patients with metastatic breast cancer within five hours, potentially helping oncologists determine if treatments are working. The test's diagnostic accuracy is 85%, correctly detecting cancer 83% of the time and ruling out cancer 92% of the time.
A study found that a methionine-deficient diet alters gene expression and DNA methylation in liver cells, increasing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A methionine-supplemented diet had the opposite effect, reducing the risk of liver damage.
A new study by University of Chicago researchers found epigenetic differences in airway cells of patients with asthma who have asthmatic mothers, contributing to the development of severe asthma. The findings suggest that impaired immune responses may be an underlying cause of lack of therapeutic response to corticosteroids.
Researchers used cell-free DNA methylation patterns to identify patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who would benefit from chemotherapy before surgery. The approach showed promise in accurately predicting tumor response, with a correct prediction rate of 79%.
Researchers have identified associations between DNA methylation patterns and gene expression levels in children's blood samples. The study provides a powerful tool to understand the link between early environmental exposures, epigenetic changes, and disease.
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has devised a new approach to 3D imaging that captures DNA methylation, a key epigenetic change associated with learning in the brain. The technique uses standard MRI technology and biological markers already in use in human medicine.
A new study found that traditional Chinese medicine Shengmai Yin increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation, reducing radioresistance. By altering DNA methylation status, SMY enhances the efficacy of radiation therapy and reduces side effects.
Researchers at UC Davis MIND Institute found a novel gene linked to autism spectrum disorder in newborns. The study analyzed DNA methylation signatures in the placenta, which reflected fetal brain development and early autism diagnosis.
A new study found that pollutants can be transmitted over many generations in water fleas, persisting long enough to influence the evolutionary process. The effects of low doses of pollutants were detected even after switching to clean water, indicating stable epigenetic marks passed down through generations.
Researchers developed a method called 6mASCOPE that measures DNA tagging system accuracy and distinguishes bacterial from human DNA. The study found high levels of methylation in plant, fly, mouse, and human cells, but mostly attributed to contamination.
A study published in Aging Cell found that late-life exercise can reverse skeletal muscle epigenetic aging in mice, making them appear 8 weeks younger than sedentary mice of the same age. The researchers used a weighted exercise wheel to stimulate muscle growth and reduce DNA methylation, a biological process linked to aging.
Epidemiologists have developed a new blood test, DunedinPACE, to measure biological aging. The test uses DNA methylation marks to track changes in organ-system integrity over time, predicting future disease and mortality.
The CLASSY gene family controls tissue-specific DNA methylation patterns in Arabidopsis, which has broad implications for agriculture and medicine. The study reveals that CLSY genes modulate DNA methylation patterns in different plant tissues.
Researchers developed a single-cell epigenetic aging clock to profile biological age in individual cells. The technique revealed mechanisms driving aging, attenuation, and early embryogenesis-related rejuvenation, opening possibilities for clinical applications in mammalian cells.
A new study reveals distinct DNA methylation profiles of human microglia cells across different age groups, disease states, and brain regions. The researchers found that interindividual differences in methylation variability had a larger impact than regional or diagnostic differences.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered a link between TET enzyme deficiency and the formation of unusual DNA structures, such as G-quadruplexes and R-loops, which contribute to genomic instability. The study suggests that regulating these structures may be key to controlling cancer development.
A new blood test developed at Hebrew University of Jerusalem detects immune and inflammatory activity in tissues by monitoring circulating DNA fragments. This method provides accurate information about immune processes in remote tissues, removing the need for invasive measures.
Researchers identified epimutations in cheek cells that can predict rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility. The discovery could lead to a non-invasive diagnostic test for the disease. Biomarkers were found in both Caucasian and African-American women with rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a strong signal for the disease.
Recent study discovers a correlation between grafting vigor and DNA demethylation in eggplant, revealing potential for epigenetic regulation. Genome-wide hypomethylation was found to be associated with enhanced vigour, with CHH methylation being reduced at transposable elements.
A recent study reveals that child maltreatment is associated with altered oxytocin gene methylation, leading to atypical brain structures and function. This finding suggests a potential biological mechanism for targeting during adolescence to improve the lives of victims of childhood abuse.
Scientists discover that small RNAs recruit RNA Polymerase V to initiate DNA methylation, enabling crop breeders to avoid silencing from the start. This finding has substantial implications for reducing the cost and effort of producing transgenic crops.
Researchers at McGill University developed a new technique to manipulate DNA methylation levels at specific genes using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This approach enables targeted demethylation of genes associated with diseases, such as insulin gene dysregulation in diabetes.
Scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have identified specific genetic biomarkers in blood samples that can indicate the severity of COVID-19. The study's findings suggest that these signals can be used to monitor SARS-CoV-2 status and predict clinical outcomes.
A phase II clinical trial has shown that the DNA alkylation drug DM-CHOC-PEN improved survival in adolescent and young adult patients with central nervous system cancers. The treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe toxicities observed, and showed potential for combination with other treatments.
Researchers have made progress in creating a brain atlas of the mouse brain, which will help develop tools for studying the human brain. The study describes the diversity of neurons in the mouse brain and establishes new methods for characterizing cell types and neural connections.
A new study found that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with changes in placental DNA methylation and poor birth outcomes. The research suggests that these epigenetic changes may affect fetal growth by altering the expression of genes involved in environmental responses, growth, and inflammation.
A study from Linköping University found that the tumour-inhibiting gene TET2 is silenced in most cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. The gene can be reactivated by treatment with an existing drug, 5-azacytidine, suggesting a targeted therapy for ALL in children.
Researchers discovered a new way to treat PTSD by targeting epigenetic modifications. Combining two natural products, SAMe and vitamin A, reversed PTSD-like behaviors in animals. This approach offers hope for a non-toxic treatment that addresses the underlying genetic cause of the disease.
Researchers analyzed data from five large heart cohort studies to identify epigenetic changes associated with cardiovascular disease. The study found 33 common methylation sites linked to heart disease across diverse populations, providing a potential target for prevention and intervention.
Researchers discovered that glioblastoma (GBM) causes epigenetic changes in CD4 T-cells, affecting their function and differentiation. The study found significant inter-patient variability in these changes, which could help select patients for immunotherapy.
Research from the John Innes Centre uncovers how small RNAs in plant tapetal cells influence DNA methylation in sperm, ensuring genetic integrity across generations. This breakthrough discovery has far-reaching implications for crop biotechnology and fundamental biological understanding.
A species of fish, Poecilia mexicana, developed a unique pattern of DNA methylation in response to exposure to toxic hydrogen sulfide. This epigenetic signature was found to be inherited by subsequent generations, even when reared in the absence of high hydrogen sulfide concentrations.
Research collaboration at Kumamoto University has revealed DNA methylation status in frontal lobes of BD patients, revealing altered gene transcriptional regulatory regions. Many genes were found to be hypomethylated in neurons, while those important for psychiatric and neurological functions were hypermethylated.
Researchers found that DNA methylation increases stiffness of DNA, affecting its 3D structure and gene activation. This discovery reveals a cryptic mechanism connecting epigenetic footprinting and gene programming.
Research at Uppsala University discovered an epigenetic mechanism linking bisphenol F (BPF) exposure during fetal development to lower IQ levels in children. The study found that higher BPF levels were associated with increased DNA methylation in the GRIN2B gene, which plays a key role in neurological development.
Researchers found that even low levels of lead exposure can cause epigenetic changes, including a decrease in DNA methylation, which may precede cellular disorders. The study suggests that these changes could be an early warning sign of potential health problems, highlighting the need for better public policy to minimize lead exposure.
A new machine learning technique, MethSig, analyzes DNA methylation changes in tumor cells to infer which ones are driving tumor growth. The algorithm identifies a small number of cancer-driving events, consistent across patients and tumor types.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine used information theory to identify a likely key genetic culprit in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukemia. By analyzing DNA methylation patterns, they discovered a gene called UHRF1 that drives the development of cancer.
Scientists have developed a novel CRISPR-based tool called CRISPRoff, which allows for the silencing of almost any gene in human cells without making DNA edits. This technology has significant therapeutic potential, particularly for rare genetic disorders that are caused by a single damaged copy of a gene.
A NIH study found that newborns conceived through IVF had certain chemical modifications to their DNA, but these changes were not seen in early childhood. The study also found no differences in growth and development for this group.
Researchers developed a reversible gene editing technology called CRISPRoff that allows controlling gene expression while leaving the underlying DNA sequence unchanged. The new method can silence the vast majority of genes with great homogeneity and in a reversible manner.
A study found that cells from people with major depressive disorder (MDD) have accelerated DNA methylation clocks, indicating an increased risk of mortality. The researchers discovered that these changes persisted even after accounting for lifestyle factors, suggesting a potential biological mechanism underlying the condition.
A University of Alabama at Birmingham study found that cytosine-p-guanine, or CpG, methylation of the DNA in the heart is associated with differences in heart-failure outcomes. The researchers also discovered that African American patients had higher rates of death from heart failure compared to Caucasian patients, suggesting a link be...
Cells from depressed individuals have higher rates of methylation at specific DNA sites, accelerating their cellular age by approximately two years compared to healthy controls. This accelerated aging is linked to increased mortality risk, as measured by the GrimAge clock.
Researchers developed a new method to detect multiple types of DNA methylation in individual bacteria and the gut microbiome using nanopore sequencing. This breakthrough enables reliable methylation discovery and high-resolution microbiome analysis.
A new technique called GETMap can trace the source of circulating DNA in the blood, which could be used to monitor organ transplant rejection, detect hidden cancers, and even screen for early asymptomatic cancers. The test identifies genetic and epigenetic markers to determine whether DNA comes from a specific tissue or organ.
Researchers identified host DNA methylation patterns linked to antibiotic-persistent MRSA infections, highlighting potential for personalized treatment strategies. Methylation differences were more pronounced in immune cells, suggesting epigenetic markers for predicting infection outcome.
Researchers investigated dynamic changes to DNA methylation in shift workers, finding that rest and recovery can restore gene function. The study suggests that insufficient sleep and related inflammatory consequences may mediate shift work disorder, highlighting the importance of sufficient rest for overall health.
A study reveals that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, play a key role in the adaptation of native Peruvians to high altitudes. The findings show that early developmental exposures can have persistent impacts on DNA methylation patterns, leading to improved lung volumes and reduced susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary f...
Researchers at Monash University have discovered a biological process that prevents the human body from regenerating new cells or tissue after birth. By demethylating specific genes, they can reawaken progenitor cells to become insulin-producing beta cells, offering a potential breakthrough for treating Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have developed a new DNA-based technique to determine the age and sex of living beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet. The method uses DNA methylation data and machine learning to create an epigenetic clock for the species, providing accurate age estimates vital to conservation efforts.
Researchers found that acute intervention in epigenetic mechanisms produces antidepressant-like effects more rapidly than conventional drugs. The study used epigenetic modulators to 'erase' the damage done by stress to neuroplasticity, showing a potential faster route to treating depression.
Scientists have discovered that hematopoietic stem cell function is impaired in aged mice, even when transplanted into a young bone marrow niche. The epigenome analysis reveals that DNA methylation profiles are a better indicator of aged HSC function than gene expression patterns.
A study by University of Vermont researchers reveals that Colorado potato beetles develop resistance to pesticides through epigenetic changes, which can be passed on to descendants across at least two generations. These changes allow the beetles to rapidly adapt to new pesticides without requiring genetic mutations.
Research at University of Fukui shows that epigenetic modifications to the oxytocin gene are correlated with maternal empathy and personal distress. The study found a positive correlation between oxytocin gene methylation and harsh parenting.
Researchers successfully restored vision in mice by turning back the clock on aged eye cells, reversing vision loss caused by glaucoma. The approach also reversed age-related vision loss in elderly mice, offering promise for treating various age-related diseases in humans.
A new method enables specific inhibition and removal of DNA methylation at targeted locations using enzymatic photocaging. This technique involves attaching photocages to AdoMet analogues, which are then transferred to methylation sites, allowing for precise control over gene regulation.
A 330-year-old poplar tree has been found to accumulate epigenetic marks that reveal its age, providing a natural epimutation accumulation system. The study's findings suggest that the rate of somatic epimutations is approximately 10,000 times higher than genetic mutations in the same tree.
Researchers found that adding tree nuts to a Western-style diet improves sperm count, viability, motility, and morphology. Nut consumption also alters specific sperm DNA methylation patterns, with 97.2% of regions displaying hypermethylation.
Researchers found a distinct DNA methylation signature in cord blood of newborns with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), spanning regions linked to early fetal neurodevelopment. The findings may hold clues for early diagnosis and intervention.