Project description:We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of allergic sensitization using nasal epithelial cell DNA from 280 subjects.
Project description:We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of allergic sensitization using nasal epithelial cell DNA from 280 subjects.
Project description:We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of allergic sensitization using nasal epithelial cell DNA from 474 subjects.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of nasal-epithelial swabs collected from vaping and non-vaping (within 6 months) adolescents from Denver, Aurora, and Pueblo, CO . The Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 850K beadchip profiling microarray was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 868,000 CpGs. Samples included 11 swabs from adolescents who had vaped in the last 6 months, and 37 who had not.
Project description:We are investigating the methylation profiles associated with cigarette smoke exposure. We used arrays to compare the DNA methylation profiles in healthy human smokers and nonsmokers. Nasal epithelial cells were extracted from 12 volunteers (6 smokers, 6 nonsmokers), and grown until fully differentiated. DNA was extracted from samples, and bisulfite converted, hybridized, and scanned to IlluminaMethylation27 BeadChip arrays.
Project description:Viral respiratory infections significantly affect young children, particularly extremely premature infants, resulting in high hospitalization rates and increased health-care burdens. Despite posing substantial health risks, airway immune responses in early life remain largely unexplored. Nasal epithelial cells, the primary defense against respiratory infections, are vital for understanding nasal immune responses and serve as a promising target for uncovering underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Using a trans-well pseudostratified nasal epithelial cell system, we examined age-dependent developmental differences and antiviral responses to influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus through systems biology approaches. Our studies revealed differences in innate-receptor repertoires, distinct developmental pathways, and differentially connected antiviral network circuits between neonatal and adult nasal epithelial cells. Consensus network analysis identified unique and shared cellular networks for influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus, emphasizing highly relevant virus-specific pathways. This research highlights the importance of nasal epithelial cells in innate antiviral immune responses and offers novel insights that should enable a deeper understanding of age-related differences in nasal epithelial cell immunity following respiratory virus infections.
Project description:Background: Mechanisms underlying the development of virus-induced asthma exacerbations remain unclear. Objective: To investigate if epigenetic mechanisms could be involved in virus-induced asthma exacerbations, we undertook DNA methylation profiling in asthmatic and healthy nasal epithelial cells (NECs) during Human Rhinovirus (HRV) infection in vitro. Methods: Global and loci-specific methylation profiles were determined via Alu element and Infinium Human Methylation 450K microarray respectively. Principal components analysis identified the genomic loci influenced the most by disease-status and infection. Real-time PCR and pyrosequencing was used to confirm gene expression and DNA methylation respectively. Results: Global methylation was increased in Asthmatics during infection. Disease status and virus infection influenced the methylation of 389 loci. Healthy and asthmatic NECs were characterized predominately by methylation profiles and patterns in loci that were not influenced by virus infection. However, both groups also exhibited distinct DNA methylation profiles in response to infection. Despite these differences, we found that the methylation of small nucleolar RNA, H/ACA box 12 (SNORA12) was common during infection. Further analysis indicated a relationship existed between SNORA12 DNA methylation and gene expression in response to infection. Conclusions: Findings from our study indicate that in addition to the well described phenotypic and genomic differences, the airway epithelium of asthmatics is characterized by a distinct methylome and that epigenetic mechanism may contribute to the development of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. Bisulphite converted DNA from matched mock and human rhinovirus-16 infected nasal epithelial cells from Healthy (n=3) and Asthmatics (n=6) adults were hybridized to the Illumina DNA methylation 450K Bead Array.