title: Age-Related Changes in DNA Methylation Associated with Shifting Th1/Th2 Balance.
abstract: This study was conducted in order to explore age-related changes in the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and determine the corresponding status of DNA methylation. The plasma IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and expression of Th-related cytokines and transcription factors in CD4+ splenocytes were observed in mice at different weeks of age. The DNA methylation levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ promoters and the related regulatory regions in CD4+ splenocytes of mice at different weeks of age were analyzed. The DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) levels in CD4+ splenocytes of mice were analyzed. Changes in plasma IL-4 and IFN-γ levels after 5-AZA injection were evaluated. Plasma IL-4 and IL-4 expression in CD4+ splenocytes declined with increasing age, while the IFN-γ expression levels increased. Th-related transcription factors showed no differences in mice at different weeks of age. The DNMT1 and DNMT3b mRNA expression did not show significant changes in CD4+ splenocytes, whereas the DNMT3a mRNA expression increased with age. DNA methylation in the IL-4 promoter was increased, while DNA methylation in the IFN-γ promoter was decreased. The methylation of RSH7, CNS-1, and HSV increased significantly with age. Age-related changes in DNA methylation may be associated with the shift in Th1/Th2 balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518026, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518026, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Guobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518026, Guangdong, China. 441483182@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chengrong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China. 18938691682@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: T helper cell; epigenetics; methylation