Epigenome‐wide DNA methylation analysis implicates neuronal and inflammatory signaling pathways in adult murine hepatic tumorigenesis following perinatal exposure to bisphenol A

Developmental exposure to the endocrine‐active compound bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to epigenotoxic and potential carcinogenic effects in rodent liver, prostate, and mammary glands. A dose‐dependent increase in hepatic tumors in 10‐month mice perinatally exposed to one of three doses of BPA (50 ng, 50 µg, or 50 mg BPA/kg chow) was previously reported. These tumors represent early‐onset disease and lack classical sexual dimorphism in incidence. Here, adult epigenome‐wide liver DNA methylation profiles to identify gene promoters associated with perinatal BPA exposure and disease in 10‐month mice with and without liver tumors were investigated. Mice with hepatic tumors showed 12,822 (1.8%) probes with differential methylation as compared with non‐tumor animals, of which 8,656 (67.5%) were hypomethylated. A significant enrichment of differential methylation in Gene Ontology (GO) terms and biological processes related to morphogenesis and development, and epigenomic alteration were observed. Pathway enrichment revealed a predominance of hypermethylated neuronal signaling pathways linked to energy regulation and metabolic function, supporting metabolic consequences in the liver via BPA‐induced disruption of neuronal signaling pathways. Hypothesis‐driven pathway analysis revealed mouse and human genes linked to BPA exposure related to intracellular Jak/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings are indicators of the relevance of the hep...
Source: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research