SUV39H1, the histone methyltransferase (HMTase) of histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), is a known transcriptional repressor of inflammatory genes. SUV39H1 as an oncogene in melanoma and underscore the role of chromatin factors in regulating tumorigenesis. The ability of mycobacteria to form biofilms, a survival strategy of the bacteria dependent upon cell-cell adhesion, was dramatically reduced in the presence of SUV39H1. Thus, this novel defense mechanism against mycobacteria represents a surrogate function of the epigenetic modulator, SUV39H1, and operates by interfering with their cell-cell adhesion ability. Overexpression of SUV39H1 may reduce renal inflammation and apoptosis via epigenetic modulation, thus plays a protective role in DN.
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