A5065958472- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2015-2025
University of Hawaii System
1999-2023
University of Hawaii Cancer Center
2023
Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
2022
Biogen (United States)
2021
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
2010-2016
National Institutes of Health
2001-2011
University of California, San Francisco
2005-2010
Neurological Surgery
2005-2008
National Cancer Institute
2004-2007
Abstract Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an invariably fatal central nervous system tumor despite treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Further insights into the molecular cellular mechanisms that drive GBM formation are required to improve patient outcome. MicroRNAs emerging as important regulators of differentiation proliferation, have been implicated in etiology a variety cancers, yet role microRNAs remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated...
Although the function of DNA methylation in gene promoter regions is well established transcriptional repression, evolutionarily conserved widespread distribution body remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that enriched included alternatively spliced exons (ASEs), and inhibition results aberrant splicing ASEs. The methyl-CpG-binding protein MeCP2 ASEs, particularly those are also highly methylated, disrupts specific targeting to exons. Interestingly, ablation increased histone...
Nucleosomes are present throughout the genome and must be dynamically regulated to accommodate binding of transcription factors RNA polymerase machineries by various mechanisms. Despite development protocols techniques that have enabled us map nucleosome occupancy genome-wide, dynamic properties nucleosomes remain poorly understood, particularly in mammalian cells. The histone variant H3.3 is incorporated into chromatin independently DNA replication requires displacement existing for its...
In this interventional pilot study, we investigated the effects of a modified ketogenic diet (KD) on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We previously observed improved behavioral symptoms in cohort following KD; trial was registered Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02477904). This report details alterations microbiota, inflammation markers, and microRNAs seven KD for duration 4 months. Our analysis included blood stool samples, collected before after KD. After months follow up, found that...
Mammalian DNA replication starts at distinct chromosomal sites in a tissue-specific pattern coordinated with transcription, but previous studies have not yet identified chromatin modification that correlates the initiation of particular genomic locations. Here we report fraction human genome are associated high frequency dimethylation histone H3 lysine K79 (H3K79Me2). H3K79Me2-containing exhibited highest genome-wide enrichment for events observed any examined thus far (23.39% H3K79Me2 peaks...
DNA methylation is critical for normal development and plays important roles in genome organization transcriptional regulation. Although methyltransferases have been identified, the factors that establish contribute to genome-wide patterns remain elusive. Here, we report a high-resolution cytosine map of murine modulated by Lsh, chromatin remodeling family member has previously shown regulate CpG at repetitive sequences. We provide evidence Lsh also controls nonrepeat sequences relate those...
Importance Variation in DNA methylation at specific loci estimates biological age, which is associated with morbidity, mortality, and social experiences. Aging known as epigenetic clocks, including the Dunedin Pace of Calculated From Epigenome (DunedinPACE), were trained on data predominately from individuals European ancestry; however, limited research has explored DunedinPACE underrepresented populations experiencing health disparities. Objective To investigate associations neighborhood...
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are hypothesized to originate in utero from perturbations neural stem cell niche regions of the developing brain. Dynamic epigenetic processes including DNA methylation integral coordinating typical brain development. However, extent and consequences alterations states compartments ASD unknown. Here, we report significant defects subventricular zone (SVZ) lateral ventricles postmortem seventeen autism-diagnosed compared age gender-matched typically...
Two known glycosides and a novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester were isolated from the n-butanol-soluble fraction of fruits Morinda citrifolia (noni). Structure determination was carried out by spectral techniques such as MS, IR, NMR, 2D-NMR. The elucidated 2,6-di-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-1-O-octanoyl-β-d-glucopyranose. compounds identified rutin asperulosidic acid. Keywords: Noni; citrifolia; ester; 2,6-di-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl-1-O-octanoyl-β-d-glucopyranose; rutin;
Abstract Monocytes/macrophages contribute to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-related cognitive impairment (CI); however, considerable gaps in our understanding precise mechanisms driving this relationship remain. Furthermore, whether a distinct biological profile associated with CI resides immune cell populations remains unknown. Here, we profiled DNA methylomes and transcriptomes monocytes derived from HIV-infected individuals without using genome-wide methylation gene expression profiling. We...
Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 remain significantly under-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. To understand vaccine hesitancy, we surveyed 1124 adults residing in a region with one of the lowest vaccination rates Hawaii during our testing program. Probit regression analysis revealed that race/ethnicity was not directly associated probability uptake. Instead, higher degree trust official sources information increased 20.68%,...
Socioeconomic factors play a critical role in influencing mental health outcomes, particularly during periods of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In Hawai'i, working adults face unique challenges related to employment, food security, and trust community safety measures, which may exacerbate risks for depression, low self-esteem, suicidal ideation. Understanding interplay these is crucial addressing disparities informing targeted policy interventions. This study analyzed data from 2,270...
Abstract Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by reduced social communication and repetitive behaviors. Altered neurogenesis, including disturbed neuronal migration, has been implicated in autism disorder. Using diffusion MRI, we previously identified migration pathways the human fetal brain hypothesized that similar persist into adulthood, with differences volume microstructural characteristics between individuals controls. We analyzed MRI–based...
Tumors arise in part from the deleterious effects of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms on gene expression. In several mouse models human tumors, tumorigenic phenotype is reversible, suggesting that also contribute significantly to tumorigenesis mice. It not known whether these are same tumors or they affect homologous genes. Using an integrated approach for genome-wide methylation copy number analyses, we identified SLC5A8 chromosome 12q23.1 was affected frequently by aberrant astrocytomas...
Abstract E-cadherin (E-cad) is a transmembrane adhesion glycoprotein, the expression of which often reduced in invasive or metastatic tumors. To assess E-cad's distribution among different types cancer cells, we used bisulfite-sequencing for detailed, base-by-base measurement CpG methylation promoter region NCI-60 cell lines. The mean levels lines were distributed bimodally, with values pushed toward either high low end scale. 38 epithelial showed substantially lower (28%) compared...
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. While cigarette smoking primary this malignancy, risk differs across racial/ethnic groups. For same number cigarettes smoked, Native Hawaiians compared to whites are at greater and Japanese Americans lower developing lung cancer. DNA methylation specific CpG sites (e.g., in AHRR F2RL3) most common blood epigenetic modification associated with status. However, influence internal dose, measured by urinary nicotine equivalents (NE), on...
Abstract While obesity is a risk factor for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC, "long-COVID"), the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon remains poorly understood. To address gap in knowledge, we performed 6-week longitudinal study to examine immune activity and gut microbiome dysbiosis stage patients recovering from infection. Self-reported symptom frequencies blood samples were collected weekly, with plasma assessed by ELISA Luminex multiple biomarkers cell profiling. DNA...
Native Hawaiians bear a disproportionate burden of type-2 diabetes and related complications compared to all other groups in Hawai'i (e.g., Whites, Japanese, Korean). Distrust these communities is significant barrier participation epigenetic research studies seeking better understand disease processes. The purpose this paper describe the community-based participatory (CBPR) approach process we employed integrate behavior biological sciences with community health priorities. A CBPR was used...
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a of the central nervous system that progressively affects motor system. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence exposure to agriculture-related occupations or agrichemicals elevate person's risk for PD. Here, we sought examine possible epigenetic changes associated with working on plantation Oahu, HI and/or organochlorines (OGC) in PD cases.We measured genome-wide DNA methylation using Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip array matched...