title: Nasal epithelial cells: a tool to study DNA methylation in airway diseases.
abstract: A number of chronic airway diseases are characterized by high inflammation and unbalanced activation of the immune response, which lead to tissue damage and progressive reduction of the pulmonary function. Because they are exposed to various environmental stimuli, lung cells are prone to epigenomic changes. Many genes responsible for the immune response and inflammation are tightly regulated by DNA methylation, which suggests that alteration of the epigenome in lung cells may have a considerable impact on the penetrance and/or the severity of airway diseases. A major hurdle in clinical epigenomic studies is to gather appropriate biospecimens. Herein, we show that nasal epithelial cells are suitable to analyze DNA methylation in human diseases primarily affecting the lower airway tract.
authors: Laboratory Genetics of Rare Diseases, INSERM U827, Montpellier, France.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Bergougnoux
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Claustres
authors: Albertina
authors: A
authors: De Sario
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000166:cytology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: DNA methylation; asthma; bronchoalveolar lavage; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cigarette smoking; cystic fibrosis; nasal epithelial cells; sputum