Genetic and epigenetic regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I gene expression in bovine trophoblast cells. (12th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Bi; Thomas, Aaron J.; Benninghoff, Abby D.; Sessions, Benjamin R.; Meng, Qinggang; Parasar, Parveen; Rutigliano, Heloisa M.; White, Kenneth L.; Davies, Christopher J.
• Is Part Of: American journal of reproductive immunology. Volume 79:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-11-12
• Subjects: bovine -- DNA methylation -- non‐classical MHC‐I -- transcription; Human reproduction -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.69206
• DOI: 10.1111/aji.12779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1046-7408

Abstract

Abstract : Problem: The regulatory mechanisms governing differential expression of classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I ( MHC‐Ia ) and non‐classical MHC class I ( MHC‐Ib ) genes are poorly understood. Method of study: Quantitative reverse transcription‐ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to compare the abundance of MHC‐I transcripts and related transcription factors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and placental trophoblast cells (PTC). Methylation of MHC‐I CpG islands was detected by bisulfite treatment and next‐generation sequencing. Demethylation of PBMC and PTC with 5′‐aza‐deoxycytidine was used to assess the role of methylation in gene regulation. Results: MHC‐I expression was higher in PBMC than PTC and was correlated with expression of IRF1, class II MHC transactivator ( CIITA), and STAT1 . The MHC‐Ia genes and BoLA‐NC1 were devoid of CpG methylation in PBMC and PTC. In contrast, CpG sites in the gene body of BoLA‐NC2, ‐NC 3, and ‐NC4 were highly methylated in PBMC but largely unmethylated in normal PTC and moderately methylated in somatic cell nuclear transfer PTC. In PBMC, demethylation resulted in upregulation of MHC‐Ib by 2.8‐ to 6‐fold, whereas MHC‐Ia transcripts were elevated less than 2‐fold. Conclusion: DNA methylation regulates bovine MHC‐Ib expression and is likely responsible for the different relative levels of MHC‐Ib to MHC‐Ia transcripts in PBMC and PTC. Abstract : qRT‐PCR analysis of bovine MHC‐I and transcription factor gene expression in PBMC and PTC. Data were normalized to GAPDH . The heatmap shows the fold change of gene expression relative to the average for the AI PTC samples.