Global DNA Methylation in Children with Complicated Urinary Tract Infection

Author(s): Kalaivani Sekar, Sriram Krishnamurthy, Jharna Mandal, Medha Rajappa

Background and Objectives: The Study suggests that pathogen interceded DNA methylation changes influence the gene expression pattern contributing to disease progression. To study the association between pathogen-induced global DNA methylation variation in children with complicated Urinary tract infection and healthy children.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics of a referral hospital. For this study, 50 children as cases with complicated UTI and 50 healthy children as controls were enrolled. Whole blood genomic DNA was isolated from the cases as well as controls. Using 5-mC (methylcytosine) DNA ELISA method, the percentage of genomic DNA methylation in these children was established.

 Results: Global DNA methylation level was found highly significant between cases and controls and the percentage of DNA methylation level was (Cases: 25.81 ± 6.9; Controls: 15.354 ± 3.17; P<0.001). Receiver operating curve analysis showed that the area under curve 0.92 for the total study population.

Interpretation and conclusions: The results of this study show that genomic DNA methylation varies significantly among cases and controls. This study points towards the role of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of complicated urinary tract infection.