Transforming growth factor beta 1 induces methylation changes in lung fibroblasts [Affymetrix]. Transforming growth factor beta 1 induces methylation changes in lung fibroblasts [Affymetrix]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a complex disease of unknown etiology. Environmental factors can affect disease susceptibility via epigenetic effects. Few studies explore global DNA methylation in lung fibroblasts, but none have focused on transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-b1) as a potential modifier of the DNA methylome. Here we analyzed changes in methylation and gene transcription in normal and IPF fibroblasts following TGF-b1 treatment. Overall design: Primary human lung fibroblasts were obtained from normal and IPF lungs. Control, treated for 24 hours and 5 days fibroblasts of both cell lines were selected for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays.