DNA Methylation Changes During Stem Cell Reprogramming
Author Information
Author(s): Reed Xylena, Weller Cory A., Saez-Atienzar Sara, Beilina Alexandra, Solaiman Sultana, Portley Makayla, Kaileh Mary, Roy Roshni, Ding Jinhui, Moore A. Zenobia, Whitaker D. Thad, Traynor Bryan J., Gibbs J. Raphael, Scholz Sonja W., Cookson Mark R.
Primary Institution: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Hypothesis
Does aging-related DNA methylation persist when cells are reprogrammed to an induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) state?
Conclusion
The study found that age-related DNA methylation is largely reset in iPSCs.
Supporting Evidence
- The study generated a population-level set of iPSC lines from healthy individuals across the lifespan.
- Aging-related features were reset based on epigenetic markers of cytosine methylation and telomere length.
- Detection of methQTLs reflects biological functions of different cell types.
Takeaway
When we turn blood cells into stem cells, the age-related changes in DNA are mostly erased.
Methodology
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were converted to iPSCs, and DNA methylation was evaluated using genome-wide arrays.
Participant Demographics
Diverse and healthy individuals enrolled in the GESTALT study.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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