DNA methylation is associated with altered gene expression in AMD.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Evidence suggests oxidative stress plays a role in the disease. To assess the potential contribution of epigenetic regulation of antioxidant genes relevant to AMD pathogenesis, we evaluated DNA methylation, a tissue-specific genetic modulation that affects gene expression.

Methods

Using the Infinium HumanMethylation27 Illumina platform, we performed DNA bisulfite sequencing to compare the methylation status in postmortem retina pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid between patients with AMD and age-matched controls. Gene expression was assessed with the Affymetrix Exon Array. TaqMan gene expression assays were used for relative quantification (RT-PCR) confirmation of the expression ar

SUBMITTER: Hunter A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4108280 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature