Genome-wide DNA methylation aberrations in human atherosclerosis (450K)

Epigenetics may help understanding the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis as genetic predisposition explains only part of cardiovascular disease risk. In particular, DNA methylation, a reversible and highly regulative DNA modification could contribute to disease onset and progression as it functions as effector for environmental impacts, including dietary and life-style, similarly to risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. We addressed this issue by performing whole-genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing and high-resolution DNAmethylation array analysis of healthy and diseased donor-matched atherosclerotic DNA methylomes. Sequencing of bisulfite converted DNA and array based analysis of atherosclerotic lesions and normal carotid tissue.

由于遗传易感性仅能解释部分心血管疾病的发病风险，表观遗传学（Epigenetics）或有助于阐明动脉粥样硬化的分子机制。具体而言，DNA甲基化（DNA methylation）作为一种可逆且高度调控的DNA修饰，可作为环境影响（包括饮食与生活方式）的效应介质，其作用模式与心血管疾病的危险因素类似，因而可能参与疾病的发生与进展。本研究通过对健康与病变的供体匹配型动脉粥样硬化DNA甲基化组开展全基因组鸟枪法亚硫酸氢盐测序与高分辨率DNA甲基化芯片分析，以此探讨上述问题。本实验包含亚硫酸氢盐转化DNA的测序操作，以及针对动脉粥样硬化斑块与正常颈动脉组织的芯片分析。