title: Genome-wide expression and methylation profiling in the aged rodent brain due to early-life Pb exposure and its relevance to aging.
abstract: In this study, we assessed global gene expression patterns in adolescent mice exposed to lead (Pb) as infants and their aged siblings to identify reprogrammed genes. Global expression on postnatal day 20 and 700 was analyzed and genes that were down- and up-regulated (≥2 fold) were identified, clustered and analyzed for their relationship to DNA methylation. About 150 genes were differentially expressed in old age. In normal aging, we observed an up-regulation of genes related to the immune response, metal-binding, metabolism and transcription/transduction coupling. Prior exposure to Pb revealed a repression in these genes suggesting that disturbances in developmental stages of the brain compromise the ability to defend against age-related stressors, thus promoting the neurodegenerative process. Overexpression and repression of genes corresponded with their DNA methylation profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
authors.forename: Remi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dosunmu
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alashwal
authors.forename: Nasser H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Zawia
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D016678:Genome / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D007854:Lead