Abstract

DELGADO-CALLE, J. et al. Comparative epigenomic analysis of bone tissue and primary osteoblasts. Rev Osteoporos Metab Miner [online]. 2014, vol.6, n.2, pp.35-39. ISSN 2173-2345.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1889-836X2014000200002.

Objectives: Epigenetic mechanisms, and in particular cytosine methylation in the promoter regions, modulate the expression of many genes. However, their role in skeletal homeostasis has scarcely been studied. In particular, it is not known if the patterns of methylation of bone cells in culture are a good reflection of that which occurrs in bone tissues. The aim of this work was to explore the possible differences in cytosine methylation in human bone and in osteoblasts. Material and methods: To achieve this we carried out a genome-wide study, analysing the degree of methylation of 23,667 loci and comparing the results in samples of bone tissue and in cultures of primary osteoblasts. Results: Overall, we observed a good correlation between the two sample types, both in the whole group of loci (r2=0,87; p<10-50), and in those located in genes involved in bone metabolism. However, some of the loci (7-8%) deviated from this general tendency and showed differences in methylation greater than 20%. Conclusions: These results indicate that the methylation data obtained in cultures are not necessarily a true reflection of that which occurs in tissues, which means that care should be taken when extrapolating such results to an in vivo situation.

Keywords : DNA methylation; epigenetics; osteoblasts.

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