title: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection: potential importance of epigenetics.
abstract: Patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be maintained on antibiotic prophylaxis, or even treated by surgery. However, there are no biological data on which to base such treatment selection for the individual patient. This highlights the need for a biological marker that might predict UTI recurrence risk. Infection of mammalian tissues with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens results in the modification of the host cell epigenome, particularly DNA methylation. We recently demonstrated that in vitro infection of bladder uroepithelial cells with uropathogenic Escherichia coli results in hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A, providing proof-of-concept that uropathogenic E. coli infection modulates the host cell epigenome. If postinfection persistence of UTI-induced uroepithelial DNA hypermethylation were to be associated with subsequent UTI propensity, these epigenetic marks could act as a potential biomarker for UTI recurrence risk and could be used to rationalize and improve treatment of patients with infection-associated uropathies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, 555 University Av., M5G 1X8 Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tolg
authors.forename: Darius J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bägli
mesh_terms: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D056689:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins