Wnt-driven LARGE2 mediates laminin-adhesive O-glycosylation in human colonic epithelial cells and colorectal cancer.

Background: Wnt signaling drives epithelial self-renewal and disease progression in human colonic epithelium and colorectal cancer (CRC). Characterization of Wnt effector pathways is key for our understanding of these processes and for developing therapeutic strategies that aim to preserve tissue homeostasis. O-glycosylated cell surface proteins, such as α-dystroglycan (α-DG), mediate cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix components.

DNA methylation analysis on purified neurons and glia dissects age and Alzheimer's disease-specific changes in the human cortex.

Background: Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) based on human brain samples allow a deep and direct understanding of epigenetic dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, strong variation of cell-type proportions across brain tissue samples represents a significant source of data noise. Here, we report the first EWAS based on sorted neuronal and non-neuronal (mostly glia) nuclei from postmortem human brain tissues.

Altered Long Noncoding RNA Expression Precedes the Course of Parkinson's Disease-a Preliminary Report.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slowly progressing neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately seven million patients worldwide. Despite intensive research, the molecular mechanisms initiating and promoting PD are still unknown. However, it is assumed that environmental factors trigger PD.

Genetic Characterization of Ten-Eleven-Translocation Methylcytosine Dioxygenase Alterations in Human Glioma.

The molecular mechanisms leading to brain tumors still remain unclear. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that epigenetic effects play crucial roles in tumor development and progression. Thereby, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) represents a further base modification of cytosine besides 5-methylcytosine (5mC).