Author:

Keywords:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, CNS REMYELINATION, ID2, ID4, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Methylation, METHYLTRANSFERASE INHIBITORS, MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS LESIONS, Myelination, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, OLIGODENDROCYTES, PROTEINS, Science & Technology, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Expression, Gene Expression Regulation, Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2, Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins, Mice, Myelin Sheath, Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells, Remyelination, Transcription Factors, 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 0606 Physiology, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology, 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics, 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis

Abstract:

The differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into myelinating oligodendrocytes is the prerequisite for remyelination in demyelinated disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, have been suggested to control the intricate network of transcription factors involved in OPC differentiation. Yet, the exact mechanism remains undisclosed. Here, we are the first to identify the DNA-binding protein inhibitors, Id2 and Id4, as targets of DNA methylation during OPC differentiation. Using state-of-the-art epigenetic editing via CRISPR/dCas9-DNMT3a, we confirm that targeted methylation of Id2/Id4 drives OPC differentiation. Moreover, we show that in the pathological context of MS, methylation and gene expression levels of both ID2 and ID4 are altered compared to control human brain samples. We conclude that DNA methylation is crucial to suppress ID2 and ID4 during OPC differentiation, a process that appears to be dysregulated during MS. Our data do not only reveal new insights into oligodendrocyte biology, but could also lead to a better understanding of CNS myelin disorders.