Analysis of Oxidative Stress Influence on DNA Methylation Profile

• Grant number: 11/09498-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Ana Paula de Souza
• Grantee: Rodrigo Augusto da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/08180-0 - Periodontal inflammation, oxidative and nitrative stress and DNA methylation, AP.JP

Abstract

The production of oxygen-derived and nitrogen-derived reactive molecules during chronic inflammation creates oxidative and nitrative stress in cells. These molecules can damage proteins, lipids and DNA. Among the changes promoted by these reactive molecules are the alterations in the pattern of DNA methylation in CpG dinucleotides of regions that control gene transcription. Methylation of genes that control events related to cell cycle, proliferation, cell division and apoptosis, i.e., tumor suppressor genes, raise the risk of developing cancer because it can reduce or silence the expression of these protective genes. Moreover, the loss of methylation of genes that promote mitosis increases the risk of developing tumors. The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of oxidative/nitrative stress on epigenetic pattern of genes associated with oxidative/nitrative stress or with chronic inflammation on cell culture.