Specific DNAS for Epigenetic Characterisation of cells and tissues
AssigneeEpiontis GmbH
InventorsSven Olek, Ivana Türbachova, Paul Gardina
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods, nucleic acids and molecular markers for the characterization of cells, tissues and heterogeneous mixtures of cells. Specifically, it describes particular genes and genomic regions in which DNA methylation patterns are a consistent and characteristic property of different cell types, states and stages of differentiation. The invention is useful in determining the identity, composition, quality and potency of cells and cell populations. Furthermore, the invention will be useful in monitoring the differentiation of cells.
Claims22
A method for determining the presence of a cell type in a biological sample, comprising the step of determining the expression level of HIF1A, whereby said expression level of HIF1A is indicative of the presence of said cell type in said biological sample.
A method for determining the presence of a cell type in a biological sample wherein said method comprises:
- a) contacting said biological sample with one or more probes selected from i)-iii):
- i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of at least 18 bases in length of a segment of chemically pretreated genomic DNA derived from HIF1A, or a sequence complementary thereto;
- ii) an oligomer comprising at least a base sequence having a length of at least 9 nucleotides which is complementary, or hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions, to a nucleic acid molecule according to i), and
- iii a set of oligomers of ii);
- and
- b) determining the level of HIF1A mRNA and/or the level of an epigenetic marker of HIF1A in said biological sample, wherein the level of HIF1A mRNA and/or the level of the epigenetic marker of HIF1A in said biological sample is indicative of the presence of said cell type.
A method for determining the presence of a chondrocyte cell in a biological sample derived from a human, comprising the step of determining the methylation status level of HIF1A, whereby unmethylated HIF1A is indicative of the presence of said chondrocyte cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.