Research Paper Volume 4, Issue 3 pp 224—234
Epigenetic bystander-like effects of stroke in somatic organs
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4
- 2 Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4
Received: February 27, 2012 Accepted: March 29, 2012 Published: March 31, 2012
https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.100447How to Cite
Abstract
Clinical evidence suggests that stroke may lead to damage of somatic organs. This communication of damage is well-established in the case of exposure to genotoxic agents is termed a bystander effect. Genotoxic stress-induced bystander effects are epigenetically mediated. Here we investigated whether stroke causes epigenetic bystander-like effects in the liver, kidney and heart. We found a significant increase in the levels of H3K3 acetylation and H3K4 trimethylation, as well as a decrease in the H3K9 trimethylation in the kidney tissue of stroked rats. Furthermore, here we for the first time show changes in the gene and microRNA expression profile in the kidney tissues of stroked rats, as compared to intact control animals. Interestingly, the observed changes were somewhat similar to those reported earlier in kidney injury, inflammation, and acute renal failure. Our data explain the recent epidemiological evidence for the increased incidence of acute kidney injury post-stroke and provide an important roadmap for the future analysis of the mechanisms and cellular repercussions of the stroke-induced bystander-like effects in distal somatic organs.