H3K27 methylation : regulation and roles in cartilage – EpiCart

For a long time, epigenetic marks were considered as irreversible. In particular, it was thought that once methylated, histones could not be demethylated. It is now admitted that these epigenetic marks are tightly regulated and control numerous cell processes such as differentiation, gene regulation, development, or carcinogenesis. Regarding the physiology of cartilage, the role of epigenetic regulation is still largely unknown. However, recent studies show a critical role of the epigenome in the regulation of the chondrocyte phenotype and in the development of cartilage diseases (osteoarthritis, arthritis…). The objective of this project is to identify the roles of the methylation on the lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) in cartilage development and joint diseases. The results should permit to improve our knowledge on epigenetics in cartilage, and to determine whether the methylation of H3K27 could be a potential target for pharmacological intervention in the treatment of osteoarthritis and possibly other arthritic diseases.