title: Abnormal Epigenetic Modifications in Peripheral T Cells from Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Are Correlated with Disease Development.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune condition. This study investigates the epigenetic modifications that occur in the T cells of AAA patients and evaluates the correlation of these modifications with disease development.
  
  
  
  Peripheral T cells were collected from 101 AAA patients and 102 healthy controls (HCs). DNA methylation and histone acetylation levels were measured by ELISA. Methyl-CpG-binding domain, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. DNA from the T cells of the AAA patients exhibited significant hypomethylation compared with the HCs (1.6-fold, p < 0.0001). Expression of DNMT1 at the mRNA level in the T cells of the AAA patients was 1.52-fold lower than that of the HCs (p < 0.0001). The extent of DNA methylation in the AAA patients was negatively correlated with the corresponding aortic diameter (r = -0.498, p < 0.0001). H3 (1.59-fold, p < 0.0001) and H3K14 (2.15-fold, p < 0.0001) acetylation levels in the T cells of the AAA patients were higher than those of the HCs, but the HDAC1 mRNA level was 2.33-fold lower than that of the HCs (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  
  DNA methylation and the histone modification status are significantly altered in the T cells of AAA patients. These changes could play a pivotal role in the activation of pathological immune responses and may influence AAA development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Shijie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lun
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Dianjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiancong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018899:CpG Islands; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; C489325:MBD2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C000619380:DNMT1 protein, human; D006655:Histone Deacetylases