Frontiers in Genetics (Jan 2023)

DNA methylation and mRNA expression of glutathione S-transferase alpha 4 are associated with intracranial aneurysms in a gender-dependent manner

  • Tianqi Xu,
  • Tianqi Xu,
  • Xi Yu,
  • Shenjun Zhou,
  • Shenjun Zhou,
  • Yiwen Wu,
  • Xinpeng Deng,
  • Yuefei Wu,
  • Shiyi Wang,
  • Shiyi Wang,
  • Xiang Gao,
  • Sheng Nie,
  • Chenhui Zhou,
  • Chenhui Zhou,
  • Jie Sun,
  • Yi Huang,
  • Yi Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1079455
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Objective: We performed a case-control study to investigate the correlation between DNA methylation and mRNA expression of the glutathione S-transferase alpha 4 (GSTA4) gene and the risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) in the Chinese Han population.Methods: After propensity score matching, 44 pairs of cases and controls were collected in this study. Fasting blood samples were collected for DNA and RNA extraction within 24 h of admission. Nine CpG dinucleotides were selected from the GSTA4 promoter region for DNA methylation pyrosequencing. mRNA expression of GSTA4 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In vitro cell experiments were conducted to verify the association between 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine induced DNA hypomethylation and GSTA4 mRNA expression.Results: The mean methylation level of GSTA4 was much lower in IA patients, especially in IA patients, especially in unruptured IA (UIA), than that in controls (IA vs. Control, p < .001; ruptured IA (RIA) vs. Control, p = .005; UIA vs. Control, p < .001). With sex stratification, we further found that the association between GSTA4 methylation and IA risk presented only in women (mean methylation level: IA vs. Control, p < .001; RIA vs. Control, p = .009; UIA vs. Control, p < .001). GSTA4 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the IA group than in the control group (p < .01) and negatively correlated with DNA methylation in all individuals (r = −.746, p < .001). DNA hypomethylation can increase GSTA4 mRNA expression in human primary artery smooth muscle cells. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that GSTA4 mean methylation (AUC = .80, p < .001) was a reliable predictor of women intracranial aneurysm, among which CpG 1 exhibited the best predictive value (AUC = .89, p < .001). In addition, GSTA4 expression levels could also predict the risk of IA in women (AUC = .87, p = .005).Conclusion: Decreased DNA methylation and increased mRNA expression of the GSTA4 gene are associated with the risk of IA in women.

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