• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate sperm chromatin/DNA integrity, global DNA methylation, and DNMT mRNA transcription in men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) compared with normozoospermic men. Methods: Semen samples from 32 OAT patients who comprised the case group and 32 normozoospermic men who comprised the control group were isolated and purified using a standard gradient isolation procedure according to World Health Organization criteria. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B transcripts were then compared between groups using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Global DNA methylation in sperm was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protamine deficiency and the proportion of apoptotic spermatozoa were evaluated using chromomycin A3 (CMA3), aniline blue (AB), and toluidine blue (TB) staining, as well as the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The p-values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: Significantly higher proportions of AB+, TB+, CMA3+, and TUNEL+ spermatozoa, as well as DNMT3A and DNMT3B transcription, were found in the OAT group. Positive correlations were detected between sperm parameters, DNA/chromatin damage, and DNMT3A and DNMT3B transcripts. Global DNA methylation was significantly higher in the OAT patients and had a significant correlation with abnormal results of all sperm chromatin integrity tests, but was not associated with DNMT1, DNMT3A, or DNMT3B expression. Conclusion: Oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men showed abnormal sperm parameters, abnormal chromatin/DNA integrity, and a higher global DNA methylation rate, as well as overexpression of DNMT mRNA.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

There are replete numbers of reports which have apparently shown that established patterns of methylation are critical for normal mammalian development. Here, we report expression of the DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) family during mouse early development. Transcription of Dnmt1o occurs in one-cell and morula stage embryos, whereas Dnmtls transcripts were detectable in all cells and tissues examined during the study. Dnmt3a1 transcript was detected in all cells and Dnmt3a2 transcript was particularly detected in the oocyte and 1-cell stages. Low level Dnmt3b1 transcripts were expressed ubiquitously in oocyte, 1-cell, and preimplantation embryos except $2{\sim}4cell$ stages. Dnmt3b3 transcripts were only detected in E7.5 embryo and ovary. Furthermore, Dnmt31 transcripts were detectable in all cells and tissues examined. Unlike Dnmtl, both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b proteins existed in the nucleus of preimplantation embryos till the morula stage. These Results suggest that differences Dnmts expression level exist and genomic DNA methylation patterns may be determined partly through differential expression of Dnmts during early development.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

종양 억제 유전자 p53은 인간 간암세포 Hep3B에서는 불활성화되어 있다. 베르베린(berberine)은 암세포의 증식을 억제하는 것으로 보고되어 있다. 우리는 베르베린을 처리한 Hep3B 세포에서 세포사멸이 유도되는지를 조사하였고 이 세포사멸이 p53과 DNA methyltransferase의 발현과 연관되어 있는지를 관찰하였다. MTT 분석을 통하여 세포 생존력을 측정하였다. 세포사멸은 각각 Annexin V flow 세포 분석을 사용하여 측정하였다. 베르베린이 처리된 세포에서 DNMT 효소 활성, mRNA 발현, 단백질 발현 정도가 검사되었으며, p53 단백질 발현은 웨스턴 블롯 분석에 의해 검사되었다. 베르베린 처리는 시간 및 용량 의존적으로 Hep3B세포의 세포사멸을 증가시켰다. 베르베린 처리 시 DNMT3b의 활성 정도, mRNA 발현 그리고 단백질 발현 정도가 모두 감소되었다. 이와는 대조적으로, Hep3B에서는 비활성인 p53 단백질의 발현은 DNMT3b의 감소와 동시에 증가했다. ERK의 발현은 변화가 없었으나, P-ERK의 발현은 농도 의존적으로 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 Hep3B 세포에 베르베린의 처리는 DNMT3b의 발현을 감소시켜서 종양 억제 유전자인 p53의 증가를 유도할 수 있고, 이를 통해서 세포사멸을 증가 시킬 수 있다는 것을 나타낸다. 이는 베르베린이 간암 세포의 증식 억제에 효과적으로 작용할 수 있음을 보여준다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2007

목적: DNA 메틸화는 암 발생과정에 있어 중요한 기전 중 하나이다. DNA 메틸화는 DNMT (DNA methyltransferase)에 의해 매개되는데 이중 DNMT3b가 암세포에서 주로 암억제 유전자의 메틸화 정도롤 조절하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 저자들은 DNMT3b 유전자의 촉진자의 다형성과 한국인에서 위암발생의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2001년 12월에서 2002년 12월까지 가톨릭대학교 성모병원에서 위암으로 진단받고 위 절제술을 받은 사람 중에서 176명과 같은 기간동안 내시경 검사를 시행했던 사람들 중 위암과 관련이 없는 경우 70명을 대상으로 하였다. DNMT3b 촉진자 다형성은 연쇄효소중합반응과 제한분절 길이 다형성 분석으로 유전형을 관찰하였다. 위암 환자에서 대립유전자 및 유전자형을 대조군과 비교하여 이런 다형성이 한국인에서 위암의 감수성을 증가시키는가에 대하여 연구하였다. 결과: DNMT3b 촉진자의 유전형은 환자군에서 14.8% (CC), 71.6% (CT), 13.6% (TT)를 보였고, 대조군에서 40% (CC), 42.9% (CT), 17.1% (TT)를 보였다. CT 이종접합체군에서 약 4.5배(OR 2.13; 95% CI, 2.324~8.803), TT 동종접합체군에서는 약 2.2배(교차비 1.42; 95% 신뢰구간, 0.899~5.165)의 위암발생률의 증가를 보였다. T 변이체 전체로는 약 3.8배의 위험률 증가를 보였다(교차비 1.88; 95%신뢰구간 2.040~7.251). 위암의 병기나 조직학적 소견, Helicobacter pylori 감염과는 유의한 관계를 보이지 않았다. 결론: DNMT3b 촉진자의 다형성은 T 변이체에서 한국인에서 위암 발생 위험도를 증가시킨다. 이러한 다형성과 위암의 병기, 조직학적 유형, Helicobacter pylori 감염과는 관련이 없었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.3015-3020
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• 2016

Background: Numerous studies have investigated associations of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) -149 C>T and -579 G>T polymorphisms with gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility; however, the findings are inconsistent prompting the present meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Related studies were identified from PubMed, Google scholar, and SID until 10 October 2015. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the associations. Results: Eleven studies were included based on the search criteria for CRC and GC related to the DNMT3B 149 C>T (3,353 cases and 4,936 controls) and DNMT3B 579 G>T (1,387 cases and 2,064 controls) polymorphisms. There was no significant association overall between DNMT3B -149 and 579 polymorphisms and the risk of cancer. In the stratified analysis by cancer type, DNMT3B 579G>T polymorphism was associated with the risk of CRC and GC. While the DNMT3B -149C/T polymorphism was related with a significantly increased risk of CRC in two tested models, dominant (GG+GT vs. TT: OR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.38-0.69; P = 0.00, Pheterogeneity=0.69, $I^2=0%$) and heterozygote (GT vs. TT: OR 0.50, 95 % CI 0.37-0.69; P=0.00, Pheterogeneity=0.41, $I^2=0%$), no evidence of any association with GC risk was observed as in the pooled analyses. Conclusions: More studies are needed to assess associations of DNMT3B -149C/T and DNMT3B 579G>T polymorphisms with cancer in different ethnicities with large population sizes to generate comprehensive conclusions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.269-274
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• 2011

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are closely associated with the epigenetic change and the gene silencing through the regulation of methylation status in animal genome. But, the role of DNMTs in transgene silencing has remained unclear. So, we examined whether the knockdown of DNMT influences the reactivation of transgene expression in the transgenic quails. In this study, we investigated the expression of DNMT3a, and DNMT3b in blastoderm, quail embryonic fibroblasts (QEFs) and limited embryonic tissues such as gonad, kidney, heart and liver of E6 transgenic quails (TQ2) by RT-PCR. We further analyzed the expression of DNMT3a at different stages of whole embryos during early embryonic development by qRT-PCR. DNMT3a expression was detected in all test samples; however, it showed the highest expression in E6 whole embryo. Embryonic fibroblasts collected from TQ2 quails were treated with two DNMT3a-targeted siRNAs (siDNMT3a-51 and siDNMT3a-88) for RNA interference assay, and changes in expression were then analyzed by qRT-PCR. The siDNMT3a-51 and siDNMT3a-88 reduced 53.34% and 64.64% of DNMT3a expression in TQ2 QEFs, respectively. Subsequently the treatment of each siRNA reactivated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in TQ2 (224% and 114%). Our results might provide a clue for understanding the DNA methylation mechanism responsible for transgenic animal production and stable transgene expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.319-329
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• 2023

Resistance to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a concerning problem. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a key cell cycle modulator and is known to be associated with an activation of the PI3K pathway, which is related to the stabilization of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), a target of HMAs. We investigated the effects of volasertib on HMA-resistant cell lines (MOLM/AZA-1 and MOLM/DEC-5) derived from MOLM-13, and bone marrow (BM) samples obtained from patients with MDS (BM blasts >5%) or AML evolved from MDS (MDS/AML). Volasertib effectively inhibited the proliferation of HMA-resistant cells with suppression of DNMTs and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK pathways. Volasertib also showed significant inhibitory effects against primary BM cells from patients with MDS or MDS/AML, and the effects of volasertib inversely correlated with DNMT3B expression. The DNMT3B-overexpressed AML cells showed primary resistance to volasertib treatment. Our data suggest that volasertib has a potential role in overcoming HMA resistance in patients with MDS and MDS/AML by suppressing the expression of DNMT3 enzymes and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK pathways. We also found that DNMT3B overexpression might be associated with resistance to volasertib.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.44-51
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) play an important role in regulating DNA methylation during early developmental processes and cellular differentiation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in maintenance of the resulting neural stem cells (NSCs). Methods and Results: We used three types of Dnmt knockout (KO) ESCs, including Dnmt1 KO, Dnmt3a/3b double KO (Dnmt3 DKO), and Dnmt1/3a/3b triple KO (Dnmt TKO), to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of ESCs. All three types of Dnmt KO ESCs could form neural rosette and differentiate into NSCs in vitro. Interestingly, however, after passage three, Dnmt KO ESC-derived NSCs could not maintain their self-renewal and differentiated into neurons and glial cells. Conclusions: Taken together, the data suggested that, although deficiency of Dnmts had no effect on the differentiation of ESCs into NSCs, the latter had defective maintenance, thereby indicating that Dnmts are crucial for self-renewal of NSCs.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1007-1015
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• 2018

E6AP (E6-associated protein)는 C형 간염바이러스(hepatitis C virus, HCV)의 코어 단백질 유비퀴틴화와 프로테오좀 분해를 유도하여 캡시드 조립을 저해함으로써 HCV 복제를 억제하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 반면에 HCV 코어 단백질은 숙주의 항바이러스 방어계에 대항하고 자신의 유비퀴틴-의존적 프로테아좀 분해를 막기 위하여 DNA 메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현을 저해하는 전략을 진화과정에서 획득하였다. 본 연구에서는 HCV 코어 단백질이 E6AP 발현을 저해하는 기전을 밝혀내고자 하였다. HCV 코어 단백질은 HepG2 세포에서 DNA 메틸화 효소들인 DNMT1, 3a 및 3b의 단백질 수준과 효소 활성을 증가시켜 프로모터 과메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현을 저해하였지만 p53를 발현하지 않는 Hep3B 세포에서는 이러한 효과들이 관찰되지 않았다. 흥미롭게도 Hep3B 세포에 p53만 과발현시키면 HCV 코어 단백질이 없더라도 DNMT가 활성화되고 프로모터 과메틸화를 통하여 E6AP 발현이 저해되었다. 또한 p53 녹다운 및 과발현 실험을 통하여 p53 활성화가 HCV 코어 단백질의 효과에 필수적임을 알 수 있었다. 이로 인하여 Hep3B 보다 HepG2 세포에서 낮은 수준의 유비퀴틴화된 HCV 코어 단백질이 검출되었다. 따라서 HCV 코어 단백질은 p53-의존적으로 자신의 유비퀴틴-매개성 프로테아좀 분해를 저해한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.98-116
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• 2024

Epigenetic writers including DNA and histone lysine methyltransferases (DNMT and HKMT, respectively) play an initiative role in the differentiation and development of eukaryotic organisms through the spatiotemporal regulation of functional gene expressions. However, the epigenetic mechanisms have long been suspected in helminth parasites lacking the major DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 and DNMT3a/3b. Very little information on the evolutionary status of the epigenetic tools and their role in regulating chromosomal genes is currently available in the parasitic trematodes. We previously suggested the probable role of a DNMT2-like protein (CsDNMT2) as a genuine epigenetic writer in a trematode parasite Clonorchis sinensis. Here, we analyzed the phylogeny of HKMT subfamily members in the liver fluke and other platyhelminth species. The platyhelminth genomes examined conserved genes for the most of SET domain-containing HKMT and Disruptor of Telomeric Silencing 1 subfamilies, while some genes were expanded specifically in certain platyhelminth genomes. Related to the high gene dosages for HKMT activities covering differential but somewhat overlapping substrate specificities, variously methylated histones were recognized throughout the tissues/organs of C. sinensis adults. The temporal expressions of genes involved in eggshell formation were gradually decreased to their lowest levels proportionally to aging, whereas those of some epigenetic tool genes were re-boosted in the later adult stages of the parasite. Furthermore, these expression levels were significantly affected by treatment with DNMT and HKMT inhibitors. Our data strongly suggest that methylated histones are potent epigenetic markers that modulate the spatiotemporal expressions of C. sinensis genes, especially those involved in sexual reproduction.