Effect of epigenotoxic chemicals on DNA methylation profiles of human induced pluripotent stem cells [methylation]

We studied the effects of chemical exposure on global DNA methylation by using mCherry-methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD)-nls human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). According to the fluorescent MBD parameters, we divided the effects of 135 chemical on global DNA methylation into 3 categories; reduction (hypomethylation), increase (hypermethylation) and little/no effect. We performed DNA methylome assay to examine the effects of 6 epigenotoxic chemicals on genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in human iPSCs. Our results indicated that hypermethylation agents increased DNA methylation and downregulated the expression of genes involved in cell cycle or development. Human iPSCs were exposed to DMSO, biotin, etoposide, propyl gallate, theophylline, bisphenol A, and thalidomide for 48 hours and then total genomic DNA was isolated for DNA methylome assay.