Alterations in methylation status of immune response genes promoters in cell-free DNA during a hemodialysis procedure.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Elevations of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations during hemodialysis (HD) sessions were reported in numerous studies regardless of an applied therapeutic protocol. It is generally thought that the elevated concentrations represent the consequence of apoptosis on the dialysis membranes. No data concerning the qualitative characteristics of cfDNAs in HD patients have been published till today; therefore, we focus on the promoter methylation status of genes involved in immune response. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We isolated cfDNA from randomly selected patients before and after a HD session and from healthy subjects examined two times per day with 4 h interval. The extent of promoter methylation of 24 genes involved in immune response was examined using the 'EpiTect Methyl qPCR Array Inflammatory Response and Autoimmunity'. RESULTS: In our pilot study, we discovered significant changes in methylation patterns of genes IL-7, IL-13, IL-17C and TYK2 between HD patients and healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Methylation of immune response genes promoters may be detected using EpiTect Methyl qPCR Array Inflammatory Response and Autoimmunity at the level of cfDNA to provide the information about the actual state of immune response in HD patients.