DNA Fluorescence Parameters and Methylation Levels of Gut Commensal Escherichia coli from Crohn's Disease Patients

Previously it was shown by us the high concentrations of E. coli in feces of Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The differences in growth of gut commensal E. coli both in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, was also demonstrated [1, 2]. Taking into account the preliminary results on DNA methylation levels and the possible impact of DNA structure on DNA fluorescence parameters, the goal of current investigations was to study the DNA fluorescence parameters of commensal E. coli isolates from the gut microbiota of CD patients in association with the DNA methylation levels.10 CD patients and 10 healthy persons were involved in this study, and at least, 5 randomly selected gut E. coli isolates from each healthy and diseased person were investigated.Comparative analysis has shown that DNA methylation levels in patients’ E. coli were significantly higher than in E. coli of healthy individuals, and the levels correlated with the duration and stage of the disease. The differences in fluorescence parameters of DNA from CD patients’ gut E. coli isolates were also revealed by us compared with the control samples of healthy people.Chronic inflammation induces a cascade of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules. The balance between these two groups of regulators controls cell death and repair of tissue damage. In recent years it has become apparent that gut commensals produce molecules which can counteract pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways leading to activation or repression of immunity genes.The above mentioned data suggests that epigenetic gene control mechanisms can be involved in bacterial induced or supported inflammation during CD.References:Pepoyan et al. Biophysical Journal (2014); 106(2):726.Gasparyan et al. Biofizika (2013); 58(4):690.