Epigenomic code in atherosusceptible endothelia: epigenomic regulation of HOX transcription factors by oxidative stress. Epigenomic code in atherosusceptible endothelia: epigenomic regulation of HOX transcription factors by oxidative stress

Atherosclerosis preferentially develops in arterial regions where hemodynamic disturbed flow and oxidative stress are present. Epigenomic regulation, especially DNA methylation, plays an essential role in regulating gene expression in response to environmental factors. We investigated the DNA methylation of endothelial cells isolated from distinctly different hemodynamic and oxidative stress environments in normal adult domestic swine: an athero-susceptible site located at the inner curvature of the aortic arch (AA) and an athero-protected region in the descending thoracic aorta (DT). Genome-wide DNA methylation landscapes as well as differential methylation regions (DMRs) were generated by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq).