Several neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, or vascular dementia and cognitive impairment, are associated with mild hyperhomocysteinemia. Hyperhomocysteinemia is defined as an increas e of the homocysteine (Hcy) level beyond 10 μM. Although the adverse effect of Hcy on neurons is well documented, knowledge about the impact of this amino acid on glial cells is missing. Therefore, with the aim to evaluate the neurotoxic properties of Hcy on glial cells, we used a glioblastoma cell line as a study model. The viability of cells was assayed biochemically and cytologically. At a concentration around 50 μM in the culture medium D,L -Hcy induced cell death. It is noteworthy that Hcy induces cell death of human glial cells at concentrations encountered during mild hyperhomocysteinemia. Therefore, we propose that Hcy -induced impairment of neuronal functions along with damage of glial cells may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases associated with hyperhomocysteinemia., H. Škovierová, S. Mahmood, E. Blahovcová, J. Hatok, J. Lehotský, R. Murín., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The fundamental biochemical processes of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) synthesis, maintenance, conversion and removal determine the time and spatial pattern of DNA methylation. This has a strong effect on a plethora of physiological aspects of cellular metabolism. While the presence of 5-mC within the promoter region can silence gene expression, its derivative - 5-hydroxymethylcytosine exerts an opposite effect. Dysregulations in the metabolism of 5-mC lead to an altered DNA methylation pattern which is linked with a disrupted epigenome, and are considered to play a significant part in the etiology of several human diseases. A summary of recent knowledge about the molecular processes participating in DNA methylation pattern shaping is provided here., R. Murín, M. Abdalla, N. Murínová, J. Hatok, D. Dobrota., and Obsahuje bibliografii