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The role of DNA demethylation in liver to pancreas transdifferentiation

  • Adi Har-Zahav
  • , Daniela Lixandru
  • , David Cheishvili
  • , Ioan Valentin Matei
  • , Ioana Raluca Florea
  • , Veronica Madalina Aspritoiu
  • , Inna Blus-Kadosh
  • , Irit Meivar-Levy
  • , Andreea Madalina Serban
  • , Irinel Popescu
  • , Moshe Szyf
  • , Sarah Ferber*
  • , Simona Olimpia Dima*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • University of Bucharest
  • Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy
  • Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel
  • Tel Aviv University
  • The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center,
  • Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Romania
  • McGill University
  • HKG Epitherapeutics, Honk Kong, China
  • Orgenesis Ltd, Ness Ziona, Israel.
  • Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (journal)peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Insulin producing cells generated by liver cell transdifferentiation, could serve as an attractive source for regenerative medicine. The present study assesses the relationship between DNA methylation pTFs induced liver to pancreas transdifferentiation.

Results: The transdifferentiation process is associated with DNA demethylation, mainly at gene regulatory sites, and with increased expression of these genes. Active inhibition of DNA methylation promotes the pancreatic transcription factor-induced transdifferentiation process, supporting a causal role for DNA demethylation in this process.

Conclusions: Transdifferentiation is associated with global DNA hypomethylation, and with increased expression of specific demethylated genes. A combination of epigenetic modulators may be used to increase chromatin accessibility of the pancreatic transcription factors, thus promoting the efficiency of the developmental process.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)476-487
Number of pages11
JournalStem Cell Research and Therapy
Volume13
Early online date16 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Sept 2022
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Cell replacement therapy for diabetes
  • DNA methylation
  • Epigenetic modifications
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
  • Pancreatic transcription factors
  • Transdifferentiation
  • Chromatin
  • Cell Transdifferentiation/genetics
  • DNA Demethylation
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Insulins/genetics
  • DNA

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