Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: EC:2.6.1.1 (
aspartate aminotransferase
)
21,665
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic modification to regulate gene expression. N-Myc downstream-regulated gene (NDRG) 2 is a cytoplasmic protein and participates in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In this study, the mRNA expression and methylation status of
NDRG2
was evaluated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The study included 143 CHB patients and 65 normal controls (NC). The mRNA expression of
NDRG2
in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The methylation status of the
NDRG2
promoter in PBMCs was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The
NDRG2
mRNA level was lower in the CHB group than in the NC group (p < 0.001). Methylation frequency of the
NDRG2
promoter was significantly higher in CHB patients than in the NC group (52.44% vs. 26.15%, p < 0.001). Importantly, the relative expression levels of
NDRG2
mRNA were significantly lower in the methylated group than in the unmethylated group in both CHB patients and NC (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a lower mRNA level and hypermethylation of
NDRG2
were associated with liver fibrosis and inflammation grade in CHB. The
aspartate aminotransferase
-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) score is widely used to predict liver fibrosis. The mRNA expression levels and methylation status of
NDRG2
showed a better score compared to APRI for discriminating the severity of liver fibrosis. In conclusion, hypermethylation of
NDRG2
in PBMCs was correlated with decreased mRNA expression and with liver fibrosis. The methylation status of the
NDRG2
promoter in PBMCs is a potential noninvasive biomarker to predict the severity of liver fibrosis.
...
PMID:Hypermethylation of the N-Myc Downstream-Regulated Gene 2 Promoter in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells is Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B. 2820 50
