Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy

Abstract Cytosolic ROS, generated by NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in diabetes, damage retinal mitochondria, which leads to the development of retinopathy. A small molecular weight G-protein essential for Nox2 activation, Rac1, is also transcriptionally activated via active DNA methylation-hydroxymethylati...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Renu A. Kowluru, Rakesh Radhakrishnan, Ghulam Mohammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2021-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93420-4
_version_ 1818997342996529152
author Renu A. Kowluru
Rakesh Radhakrishnan
Ghulam Mohammad
author_facet Renu A. Kowluru
Rakesh Radhakrishnan
Ghulam Mohammad
author_sort Renu A. Kowluru
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cytosolic ROS, generated by NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in diabetes, damage retinal mitochondria, which leads to the development of retinopathy. A small molecular weight G-protein essential for Nox2 activation, Rac1, is also transcriptionally activated via active DNA methylation-hydroxymethylation. DNA methylation is a dynamic process, and can also be regulated by histone modifications; diabetes alters retinal histone methylation machinery. Our aim is to investigate the role of histone methylation (H3K9me3) of Rac1 promoter in dynamic DNA methylation- transcriptional activation. Using human retinal endothelial cells in 20 mM D-glucose, H3K9me3 at Rac1 promoter was quantified by chromatin-Immunoprecipitation technique. Crosstalk between H3K9me3 and DNA methylation was examined in cells transfected with siRNA of histone trimethyl-transferase, Suv39H1, or Dnmt1, exposed to high glucose. Key parameters were confirmed in retinal microvessels from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, with intravitreally administered Suv39H1-siRNA or Dnmt1-siRNA. Compared to cells in normal glucose, high glucose increased H3K9me3 and Suv39H1 binding at Rac1 promoter, and Suv39H1-siRNA prevented glucose-induced increase 5 hydroxy methyl cytosine (5hmC) and Rac1 mRNA. Similarly, in diabetic mice, Suv39H1-siRNA attenuated increase in 5hmC and Rac1 mRNA. Thus, H3K9me3 at Rac1 promoter assists in active DNA methylation-hydroxymethylation, activating Rac1 transcription. Regulation of Suv39H1-H3K9 trimethylation could prevent further epigenetic modifications, and prevent diabetic retinopathy.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T21:44:07Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ecd9541b00b64777b0106355a4ab418b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T21:44:07Z
publishDate 2021-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-ecd9541b00b64777b0106355a4ab418b2022-12-21T19:25:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-93420-4Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathyRenu A. Kowluru0Rakesh Radhakrishnan1Ghulam Mohammad2Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State UniversityOphthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State UniversityOphthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State UniversityAbstract Cytosolic ROS, generated by NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in diabetes, damage retinal mitochondria, which leads to the development of retinopathy. A small molecular weight G-protein essential for Nox2 activation, Rac1, is also transcriptionally activated via active DNA methylation-hydroxymethylation. DNA methylation is a dynamic process, and can also be regulated by histone modifications; diabetes alters retinal histone methylation machinery. Our aim is to investigate the role of histone methylation (H3K9me3) of Rac1 promoter in dynamic DNA methylation- transcriptional activation. Using human retinal endothelial cells in 20 mM D-glucose, H3K9me3 at Rac1 promoter was quantified by chromatin-Immunoprecipitation technique. Crosstalk between H3K9me3 and DNA methylation was examined in cells transfected with siRNA of histone trimethyl-transferase, Suv39H1, or Dnmt1, exposed to high glucose. Key parameters were confirmed in retinal microvessels from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, with intravitreally administered Suv39H1-siRNA or Dnmt1-siRNA. Compared to cells in normal glucose, high glucose increased H3K9me3 and Suv39H1 binding at Rac1 promoter, and Suv39H1-siRNA prevented glucose-induced increase 5 hydroxy methyl cytosine (5hmC) and Rac1 mRNA. Similarly, in diabetic mice, Suv39H1-siRNA attenuated increase in 5hmC and Rac1 mRNA. Thus, H3K9me3 at Rac1 promoter assists in active DNA methylation-hydroxymethylation, activating Rac1 transcription. Regulation of Suv39H1-H3K9 trimethylation could prevent further epigenetic modifications, and prevent diabetic retinopathy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93420-4
spellingShingle Renu A. Kowluru
Rakesh Radhakrishnan
Ghulam Mohammad
Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
Scientific Reports
title Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
title_full Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
title_fullStr Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
title_full_unstemmed Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
title_short Regulation of Rac1 transcription by histone and DNA methylation in diabetic retinopathy
title_sort regulation of rac1 transcription by histone and dna methylation in diabetic retinopathy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93420-4
work_keys_str_mv AT renuakowluru regulationofrac1transcriptionbyhistoneanddnamethylationindiabeticretinopathy
AT rakeshradhakrishnan regulationofrac1transcriptionbyhistoneanddnamethylationindiabeticretinopathy
AT ghulammohammad regulationofrac1transcriptionbyhistoneanddnamethylationindiabeticretinopathy