Organomegaly and tumors in transgenic mice with targeted expression of HpaII methyltransferase in smooth muscle cells.

ABSTRACT: Current data suggest that angiogenesis, smooth muscle cell migration, differentiation and proliferation may be epigenetically regulated. Prokaryotic DNA methyltransferases have been proposed as tools to modify mammalian DNA methylation. In order to assess the impact of DNA hypermethylation on smooth muscle pathophysiology, we expressed an HpaII site-specific methyltransferase transgene in smooth muscle cells in mice. The enzyme is expected to target only a subset (CCGG) of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides, thus avoiding possible deleterious effects of widespread hypermethylation. Transgenics of two independent lines were born at expected frequencies, showed no obvious abnormalities and were fertile. Nevertheless, ~30% of > 1 year-old transgenics developed organomegaly and ~20% showed a range

SUBMITTER: Carpinteyro-Espin P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3092682 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature