Comparison of hypoxia- and hyperoxia-induced alteration of epigene expression pattern in lungs of Pleurodeles waltl and Mus musculus

PLoS One. 2024 Feb 28;19(2):e0299661. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299661. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Epigenetics is an emerging field of research because of its involvement in susceptibility to diseases and aging. Hypoxia and hyperoxia are known to be involved widely in various pathophysiologies. Here, we compared the differential epigene expression pattern between Pleurodeles waltl and Mus musculus (commonly known as Iberian ribbed newt and mouse, respectively) exposed to hypoxia and hyperoxia. Adult healthy newts and mice were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (8% O2) and hyperoxia (80% O2) for 2 hours. We collected the lungs and analyzed the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif1α) and several key epigenes from DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) family, histone deacetylase (HDAC) family, and methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) family. The exposure to hypoxia significantly increased the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (Dnmt3α), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (Mbd2), Mbd3, and histone deacetylase 2 (Hdac2) in lungs of newts, but decreased the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) and Dnmt3α in lungs of mice. The exposure to hyperoxia did not significantly change the expression of any gene in either newts or mice. The differential epigene expression pattern in response to hypoxia between newts and mice may provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of disorders developed due to hypoxia exposure.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA
  • Hyperoxia* / genetics
  • Hypoxia / genetics
  • Lung
  • Methyltransferases
  • Mice
  • Pleurodeles* / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Salamandridae / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA
  • Methyltransferases

Grants and funding

The Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Culture and Technology, Japan (Grant number: 21K19533) and the Program of the Network-type Joint Usage/Research Center for Radiation Disaster Medical Science of Hiroshima University, Nagasaki University, and Fukushima Medical University were the funding source for this research work. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.