Unexpected effects of a heterozygous dnmt1 null mutation on age-dependent DNA hypomethylation and autoimmunity.
DNA methylation modifies gene expression. Methylation patterns are established during ontogeny, but they change with aging, usually with a net decrease in methylation. The significance of this change in T cells is unknown, but it could contribute to autoimmunity, senescence, or both. We examined the effects of a null mutation in DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), a gene maintaining DNA methylation patterns, on immune aging. Whereas aged control mice developed hypomethylated DNA, autoimmunity, and signs of immune senescence as predicted, the knockout mice surprisingly increased DNA methylation and developed signs of autoimmunity and senescence more slowly. To identify potential mechanisms, we compared transcripts of DNA methyltransferase and methylcytosine binding protein family members in control and knockout mice. MeCP2, a methylcytosine binding protein involved in gene suppression and chromatin inactivation, was the only transcript differentially expressed between old knockout mice and controls, and thus it is a candidate for a gene product mediating these effects.
Yung
R
R
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Ray
D
D
Eisenbraun
J K
JK
Deng
C
C
Attwood
J
J
Eisenbraun
M D
MD
Johnson
K
K
Miller
R A
RA
Hanash
S
S
Richardson
B
B
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C492013:Mbd3 protein, mouse; C497393:Mecp2 protein, mouse; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C000619381:Dnmt1 protein, mouse