2016 Vol. 2 No. 1: 4 iMedPub Journals ht tp://www.imedpub.com Research Article DOI: 10.21767/2472-1158.100012 1 © Under License of Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License | This article is available in: hp://www.clinical-epigenecs.imedpub.com/ Journal of Clinical Epigenetics ISSN 2472-1158 Simonetta Friso 1# , Francesca Pizzolo 1# , Silvia Udali 1 , Patrizia Guarini 1 , Annalisa Castagna 1 , Letizia Consoli 1 , Gianluca Salvagno 2 , Elisa Tinazzi 1 , Patrizia Pattini 1 , Sang-Woon Choi 3,4 , Claudio Lunardi 1 and Oliviero Olivieri 1 1 Department of Medicine, University of Verona, School of Medicine, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy 2 Department of Pathology and Diag- noscs, University of Verona, School of Medicine, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy 3 Chaum Life Center, CHA University, 442 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135- 948, Korea 4 Tuſts University School of Nutrion Sci- ence and Policy, 150 Harrison Ave, Bos- ton, MA 02111, USA Corresponding author: Simonea Friso simonea.friso@univr.it University of Verona, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Policlinico “G.B. Rossi”, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy. # These two authors equally contributed to this work Tel: +39-045-8126369 Fax: +39-045-8027473 Citaon: Friso S, Pizzolo F, Udali S, et al. Epigenec Regulaon of HSD11B2 Gene by Promoter Methylaon in Glucocorcoid- Treated Paents. J Clin Epigenet. 2016, 2:1. Epigenec Regulaon of HSD11B2 Gene by Promoter Methylaon in Glucocorcoid- Treated Paents Abstract Background: A reduced acvity of the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11 beta-HSD2) causes hypertension by conferring aldosterone selecvity to mineralcorcoid receptors and eventually impairing the tetrahydrocorsol-versus tetrahydrocorsone-metabolites (THFs/THE) shule. The 11 beta-HSD2 funcon is modulated by glucocorcoid treatment that may induce hypertension through a mechanism mostly unknown. Promoter methylaon, one of the main epigenec and potenally modifiable feature of DNA, regulates HSD11B2 gene expression and relates to the development of arterial hypertension. Objecve: To explore the mechanism by which steroid therapy influences blood pressure we invesgated the effect of glucocorcoid-treatment on HSD11B2 promoter methylaon and THFs/THE rao, that reflects the 11 beta-HSD2 acvity. Method: We determined urinary THFs/THE rao by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and HSD11B2 methylaon in promoter Region 1 and 2 using bisulfite- pyrosequencing in DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of six normotensive subjects affected by autoimmune diseases at three me points: T0) baseline, T1) following one-month prednisone therapy (0.5-1 mg/kg daily), and T2) at least one year aſter withdrawal. Results: Glucocorcoid treatment was associated with the increase of HSD11B2 promoter methylaon, that was significant for Region 1 (T0 2.4%, T1 2.8%, P=0.046), and the concomitant raise of THFs/THE rao (T0 1.29 ± 0.80, T1 4.10 ± 1.62, P=0.043). Aſter glucocorcoid-withdrawal (T2) both parameters decreased (methylaon 1.9%; THFs/THE rao 1.09), although not significantly. A significant posive correlaon was observed between HSD11B2 promoter methylaon and the THFs/THE rao. Conclusion: High-dosage prednisone therapy alters promoter methylaon of HSD11B2 and 11beta-HSD2 acvity, influencing blood pressure: this effect appears slightly reversible aſter glucocorcoid-withdrawal, suggesng a dynamic epigenec regulaon of HSD11B2. Keywords: HSD11B2; Hypertension; Corsone; Epigenecs; DNA methylaon Abbreviaons: 11 beta-HSD2: 11 Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 2; THFs/THE: Tetrahydrocorsol/Tetrahydrocorsone; PBMCs: Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells; THF: Tetrahydrocorsol; αTHF: 5α-Tetrahydrocorsol; THE: Tetrahydrocorsone Received: December 24, 2015; Accepted: January 22, 2016; Published: January 30, 2016