Role of DNA Methylation in the Development and Differentiation of Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

The mammalian intestine contains many different cell types but is comprised of 2 main cell types: epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Recent in vivo and in vitro evidence has revealed that various alterations to the DNA methylation apparatus within both of these cell types can result in a variety of cellular phenotypes including modified differentiation status, apoptosis, and uncontrolled growth. Methyl groups added to cytosines in regulatory genomic regions typically act to repress associated gene transcription. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are often found in cells with abnormal growth/differentiation patterns, including those cells involved in burdensome intestinal pathologies including inflammatory bowel diseases and intestinal pseudo-obstructions. The altered methylation patterns being observed in various cell cultures and DNA methyltransferase knockout models indicate an influential connection between DNA methylation and gastrointestinal cells' development and their response to environmental signaling. As these modified DNA methylation levels are found in a number of pathological gastrointestinal conditions, further investigations into uncovering the causative nature, and controlled regulation, of this epigenetic modification is of great interest.

Functionalized Ferroferric Oxide Nanomagnetic Beads for Extraction of Nucleic Acid and Its Application in Early Screening of Colorectal Cancer

“…Compared with other cells, they have a faster renewal rate. Therefore, the detection of exfoliated cells and their mutant genes in feces can be a noninvasive method for CRC screening and early diagnosis way [ 24 – 26 ].…”

Clopidogrel Resistance Is Associated With DNA Methylation of Genes From Whole Blood of Humans

“…In particular, methylation levels might be significantly transformed in the context of disease conditions ( Attwood et al, 2002 ). Differential DNA methylation of peripheral blood and tissues is reported in various diseases, including intestinal disease ( Jorgensen and Ro, 2019 ), adrenocortical cancer ( Legendre et al, 2016 ), breast cancer ( Li et al, 2018 ), Parkinson’s disease ( Chuang et al, 2017 ), and systemic lupus erythaematosus ( Zhu et al, 2016 ). Moreover, DNA methylation plays great effect on the cardiovascular system.…”

Low birth weight female piglets show altered intestinal development, gene expression, and epigenetic changes at key developmental loci

“…They then differentiate into mature, absorptive ALPi+, Lgr5− enterocytes as they move up the villus until they arrive at the villus tip where they undergo apoptosis and are extruded into the lumen. 22 The mechanisms of action and the effects of these pathways have been studied in vitro and in vivo, using mice, rats and human newborns to a certain extent (for references see Drozdowski et al 5 ). However, there is little information on the activation patterns of these regulatory pathways during early postnatal development in other animal models such as the pig.…”