Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the change of whole genome methylation and heart failure. Methods Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation-chip(MeDIP-chip) and microarray hybridization, mRNA amplification and microarray, and the bisulfite sequencing(BS)-PCR-sequencing strategy were used in this study. Differential methylation genes and differential expression genes from mRNA amplication and microarray analysis were compared. Then 13 differential methylation genes were selected for further analysis with BS-PCR. Results abca4 gene promoter methylation in heart failure group and healthy group was 85.5% and 91.2%, respectively. While 5.7% difference in methylation between two groups correlated with 2.05 fold increase in mRNA expression in heart failure group, cd200 gene promoter methylation in heart failure group and healthy group was 50.5% and 57.1% respectively. And 6.6% difference in methylation between two groups corresponded to 2.18 fold increase in mRNA expression in heart failure group. Conclusion abca4 and cd200 DNA methylation may significantly influence the expression of these genes. And it is suggested that the alteration in DNA methylation may lead to the initiation and development of heart failure.

Key words: DNA methylation, abca4, cd200, epigenetics, heart failure