Summary of DNA Methylation Found to Play a Critical Role in Alzheimer’s Disease, Say Mount Sinai Researchers:
This study by Mount Sinai scientists has revealed the significant influence of DNA methylation on gene and protein co-expression networks related to Alzheimer’s disease. The findings could contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease and provide a framework for future data integration at the multi-scale network level. The researchers plan to extend their methods to study the methylomic variation and impacts on multiscale networks at the single-cell level.
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Exploring the Role of DNA Methylation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. While the exact cause of AD is still unknown, scientists are beginning to understand the role of epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, in the development and progression of the disease. Now, researchers from Mount Sinai have provided fresh insights into the involvement of DNA methylation in AD and its potential for uncovering novel neuropathological processes and molecular mechanisms for developing new treatments.
DNA Methylation and Alzheimer’s Disease
DNA methylation is a process in which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, altering gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code. It is known to play a role in a variety of biological processes and has been associated with a number of diseases, including cancer and AD. In their study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Mount Sinai researchers investigated the influence of DNA methylation on gene and protein co-expression networks associated with AD.
Novel Analytic Approach
The researchers used a novel analytical approach to quantify the impact of DNA methylation on gene and protein expression and a large cohort of post-mortem control, mild cognitive impaired (MCI), and AD brains from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank. They profiled genome-wide methylomic variations in the parahippocampal gyrus, a region of the brain involved in a variety of functions including memory processing, and discovered 270 distinct differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in AD compared to normal controls. They also validated their key findings using an independent cohort (Religious Orders Study and Memory Assessment Project, ROSMAP).
Implications for Future Research
The results of this study offer a novel approach to investigating the relationship between DNA methylation and gene/protein expression, and highlight the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in human diseases such as AD. The researchers plan to extend their methods to study the methylomic variation and impacts on multiscale networks at the single-cell level, which could provide new insights into the DNA methylation profiles of individual cell types. Ultimately, this could lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for AD and the development of innovative treatments for the disease.
