Project description:During embryonic development DNA methylation is highly dynamic, although less is known about the stability and fine-tuning of DNA methylation at later stages of differentiation. To understand the role of DNA methylation during hepatocyte differentiation, we profiled approximately 450k methylation sites at different time points in the progression from hepatoblast to hepatocyte stages using the bipotent liver progenitor HepaRG cell line. Progressive demethylation of HNF4A P1 was highly correlated with increased expression of the shorter isoforms of HNF4A. In addition, the absence of cell division at later stages of differentiation and the increased expression of TET1 and TET2 transcripts indicates that a process of active demethylation is taking place at this specific locus. These data suggest that liver progenitors are poised for targeted demethylation at specific genomic locations involved in terminal stages of hepatocyte differentiation.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
Project description:Cytosine DNA methylation in the CpG context (5mCpG) is associated with the transcriptional status of nuclear DNA. Due to technical limitations, it has been less clear if mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is methylated and whether 5mCpG has a regulatory role in this context. The main aim of this work was to develop and validate a novel tool for determining methylation of mtDNA and to corroborate its existence across different biological contexts. Here, we profiled the human hepatocyte-like progenitor cell line HepaRG, before and after in vitro differentiation, using long-read nanopore sequencing.
Project description:Background: Hepatocytes comprise a major cell type of the human liver and function for metabolism, detoxification, and production of secreted proteins. During the hepatocyte differentiation process, whereas the gene regulation and master transcription factors have been extensively investigated, little is known about the epigenome regulation, particularly DNA methylation dynamics, and their responsible upstream factors. Results: Examining changes in transcriptome and methylome during in vitro hepatocyte differentiation, we identified putative DNA methylation-regulating transcription factors, which are likely involved in DNA demethylation and hypo-methylation maintenance in a differentiation stage-specific manner.
Project description:Background: Hepatocytes comprise a major cell type of the human liver and function for metabolism, detoxification, and production of secreted proteins. During the hepatocyte differentiation process, whereas the gene regulation and master transcription factors have been extensively investigated, little is known about the epigenome regulation, particularly DNA methylation dynamics, and their responsible upstream factors. Results: Examining changes in transcriptome and methylome during in vitro hepatocyte differentiation, we identified putative DNA methylation-regulating transcription factors, which are likely involved in DNA demethylation and hypo-methylation maintenance in a differentiation stage-specific manner.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs. Two-condition experiment, KP MSCs vs. 3A6 MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.