Title: Global Methylation of Ischemic stroke

Laboratory/Hospital: Grup de neurovascular, IMIM; Servei de Neurologia, IMIM-Hospital del Mar.

Persons in charge of the project:

Introduction:

Ischemic stroke is a heterogeneous multifactorial disorder, among the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability in the western world. Epidemiological data provides evidence for a genetic component to the disease, but its epigenetic involvement is still largely unknown. Epigenetics mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, regulate high-order DNA structure and gene expression. Global methylation changes over time, and has been suggested its association with aging processes and with modulation in risk of suffering different pathologies. Analysis of global DNA methylation may provide information about the disease, its prognosis and about the effect of vascular risk factors.

Objective:

This is case-control study design. Our goals are looking for global DNA methylation differences between ischemic stroke and controls, ischemic stroke etiologies (assessing the effects on risk of lacunar, cardioembolic, and atherothrombotic stroke) and vascular risk factors in stroke individuals.  Changes in global DNA methylation may enhance risk factors effect. It could provide evidence of an epigenetic component in ischemic stroke.

Methods:

Design:

Discovery: Case-Control study. (800 vs 800).

Replication: Comparison in those variables those were significantly different in Global methylation. (300 vs 300)

Global DNA methylation will be studied by luminometric methylation assay (LUMA). Then, the samples will be analyzed by pyrosequencing to evaluate methylation status..

Requirements:

DNA samples of controls, matched per age (41-85 years) and gender. 450ng of total DNA will be required with a minimal concentration of 30ng/uL.

Participation is possible both in discovery and in replication phase

Project funding:

The cost of sending samples, as well as the analyses will be covered by the Neurovascular group, IMIM. Resulting publications will reflect the contribution of participating centres as co-authors.