DNA methylation ambiguity in the Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) CpG island shore possibly involved in Marfan syndrome

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 24;10(1):5287. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62127-3.

Abstract

Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) is responsible for haploinsufficient and autosomal dominant Marfan syndrome. Even in the same Marfan pedigree, penetrance and expressivity in heterozygous individuals can differ and result in variable disease onset and severity. Thus, other factors in addition to mutations in FBN1 are likely to contribute to the disease. In this study, we examined the regulation of FBN1 in porcine Marfan syndrome model, focusing on DNA methylation patterns distinguishable as wild-type (WT) and FBN1 null (KO) alleles in heterozygous cells. Most importantly, the ratio of the transcriptionally active hypomethylated WT allele was altered during cellular passage and highly correlated with FBN1 mRNA level compared with that in the KO allele. Transcribed FBN1 RNA from the KO allele was abolished after splicing coupled with translational initiation, suggesting that the functional FBN1 mRNA levels were affected by DNA methylation of the WT allele.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • CpG Islands*
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Fibrillin-1 / genetics*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Marfan Syndrome / genetics
  • Marfan Syndrome / metabolism
  • Marfan Syndrome / pathology*
  • Mutation*
  • Penetrance
  • Swine

Substances

  • Fibrillin-1