Induced pluripotent stem cells offer new approach to therapy in thalassemia and sickle cell anemia and option in prenatal diagnosis in genetic diseases.
AuthorsYe L, Chang JC, Lin C, Sun X, Yu J, Kan YW,
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID19482945
'The innovation of reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells provides a possible new approach to treat beta-thalassemia and other genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be made from these patients'' somatic cells and the mutation in the beta-globin gene corrected by ... More
Specific tumour-associated methylation in normal human term placenta and first-trimester cytotrophoblasts.
AuthorsNovakovic B, Rakyan V, Ng HK, Manuelpillai U, Dewi C, Wong NC, Morley R, Down T, Beck S, Craig JM, Saffery R,
JournalMol Hum Reprod
PubMed ID18708652
'Human placentation displays many similarities with tumourigenesis, including rapid cell division, migration and invasion, overlapping gene expression profiles and escape from immune detection. Recent data have identified promoter methylation in the Ras association factor and adenomatous polyposis coli tumour suppressor genes as part of this process. However, the extent of ... More
Placenta-specific methylation of the vitamin D 24-hydroxylase gene: implications for feedback autoregulation of active vitamin D levels at the fetomaternal interface.
AuthorsNovakovic B, Sibson M, Ng HK, Manuelpillai U, Rakyan V, Down T, Beck S, Fournier T, Evain-Brion D, Dimitriadis E, Craig JM, Morley R, Saffery R,
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID19237542
'Plasma concentrations of biologically active vitamin D (1,25-(OH)(2)D) are tightly controlled via feedback regulation of renal 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1; positive) and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1; catabolic) enzymes. In pregnancy, this regulation is uncoupled, and 1,25-(OH)(2)D levels are significantly elevated, suggesting a role in pregnancy progression. Epigenetic regulation of CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 has previously ... More