DNA methylation analysis in the intestinal epithelium-effect of cell separation on gene expression and methylation profile.

Background: Epigenetic signatures are highly cell type specific. Separation of distinct cell populations is therefore desirable for all epigenetic studies. However, to date little information is available on whether separation protocols might influence epigenetic and/or gene expression signatures and hence might be less beneficial.

Cadmium induces Wnt signaling to upregulate proliferation and survival genes in sub-confluent kidney proximal tubule cells.

Background: The class 1 carcinogen cadmium (Cd2+) disrupts the E-cadherin/beta-catenin complex of epithelial adherens junctions (AJs) and causes renal cancer. Deregulation of E-cadherin adhesion and changes in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling are known to contribute to carcinogenesis.

Results: We investigated Wnt signaling after Cd2+-induced E-cadherin disruption in sub-confluent cultured kidney proximal tubule cells (PTC).