Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling of the Regenerative MRL/MpJ Mouse and Two Normal Strains

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to identify the pivotal differences in the DNA methylation profiles between the regeneration capable MRL/MpJ mouse and reference mouse strains. Materials & methods: Global DNA methylation profiling was performed in ear pinnae, bone marrow, spleen, liver and heart from uninjured adult females of the MRL/MpJ and C57BL/6J and BALB/c. Results & conclusion: A number of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) distinguishing between the MRL/MpJ mouse and both references were identified. In the ear pinnae, the DMRs were enriched in genes associated with development, inflammation and apoptosis, and in binding sites of transcriptional modulator Smad1. Several DMRs overlapped previously mapped quantitative trait loci of regenerative capability. The results suggest potential epigenetic determinants of regenerative phenomenon.

Keywords::

• DNA methylation
• epigenetics
• MeDIP-chip
• microarray
• MRL/MpJ
• regeneration
• wound healing

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/epi-2017-0009

Author contributions

B Górnikiewicz performed tissue processing and DNA extraction, designed and conducted the microarray data analysis and qPCR verification of microarray results, and prepared the manuscript. A Ronowicz performed cDNA labeling, microarray experiments and data processing. P Madanecki performed preliminary microarray data analysis. P Sachadyn developed the concept and design of the study and revised the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank J Renata Ochocka and A Piotrowski for their help and access to the Microarray Laboratory of the Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, funded by the Foundation for Polish Science (FOCUS 4/2008 and FOCUS4/08/2009grants).

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported by a research grant of the National Science Centre of Poland (no. DEC-2011/01/B/NZ2/05352) and in part by a grant of the National Centre for Research and Development of Poland (no. STRATEGMED1/235077/9/NCBR/2014). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical statement

The ethical approval for the collection of murine samples no. 12/2014 was issued by the Local Ethics Commission for Experimentation on Animals at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a research grant of the National Science Centre of Poland (no. DEC-2011/01/B/NZ2/05352) and in part by a grant of the National Centre for Research and Development of Poland (no. STRATEGMED1/235077/9/NCBR/2014). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.