The effects of culture on genomic imprinting profiles in human embryonic and fetal mesenchymal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Human embryonic stem (hES) cells and fetal mesenchymal stem cells (fMSC) offer great potential for regenerative therapy strategies. It is therefore important to characterise the properties of these cells in vitro. One major way the environment impacts on cellular physiology is through changes to epigenetic mechanisms. Genes subject to epigenetic regulation via genomic imprinting have been characterised extensively. The integrity of imprinted gene expression therefore provides a measurable index for epigenetic stability. Allelic expression of 26 imprinted genes and DNA methylation at associated differentially methylated regions (DMRs) was measured in fMSC and hES cell lines. Both cell types exhibited monoallelic expression of 13 imprinted genes, biallelic expression of six imprinted genes,

SUBMITTER: Frost J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3052914 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature