Analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of mesenchymal stem cells during activation induced by inflammatory microenvironment

• Grant number: 14/18457-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 01, 2014
• End date: October 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Niels Olsen Saraiva Câmara
• Grantee: Danilo Candido de Almeida
• Supervisor: Wolfgang Wagner
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/25327-2 - Role of inflammatory microenvironment in activation and biology of mesenchymal stem cells, BP.PD

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit a potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, which are very attractive for clinical use as prevention and/or treatment for several kinds of inflammatory disorders as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), autoimmune diseases, renal injuries and others. In this context, a number of clinic studies have suggested that MSCs treatment may be safe and effective for preventing or treating of some inflammatory disorders. However, the outcomes of MSC therapies in multicenter randomized studies were so far disappointing. MSCs can be activated during inflammation and this appropriate activation can be a key to drive and enhance their therapeutic potential. In light of recent findings, it is speculated that promoter DNA methylation patterns (DNAm) could have a determinant function on gene activation and differentiation capacity of MSCs. Hence, in this present study, we intend to investigate if the DNA-methylation profile is modified in promoter regions of specifics genes in bone marrow derived MSCs during activation by inflammatory microenvironment. (AU)