Our understanding of early development and its importance for lifelong health is constantly evolving, thanks in part to the growing field of epigenetics. We now know that parents pass along more than just their genes they also transmit molecular mechanisms that control how genes are expressed. These epigenetic gene regulators help ensure the normal development of a child.

However, only a few genes in our genome carry the epigenetic data of our parents. These imprinted genes are either expressed (or not-expressed) based on whether an epigenetic regulator is inherited from the mother or father.

During early embryonic development, certain maternal genes transmit important and lasting epigenetic information from the oocyte (egg cell) to the zygote (fertilized egg). However, outside of this small grouping of imprinted genes, very few other genes have been found to be influenced by the mothers epigenetic condition at least until now.

Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) of Medical Research in Australia have recently discovered that we may be inheriting more of our mothers epigenetic information than what was previously thought. In their study, published in Nature Communications, the researchers learned for the first time that a specific protein found in the mothers egg epigenetically affects the genes required for skeletal patterning in the child.

Principal investigator, professor Marnie Blewitt of WEHI, and her team, which included PhD student Natalia Benetti and Edwina McGlinn of Monash University, were initially surprised by their findings.

Knowing that epigenetic information from the mother can have effects with life-long consequences for body patterning is exciting, as it suggests this is happening far more than we ever thought, Blewit said. It could open a Pandoras box as to what other epigenetic information is being inherited.

The primary focus of the study was on a protein called SMCHD1, an epigenetic regulator professor Blewit discovered in 2008, and the Hox genes, a group of developmental genes critical for skeletal development.

In developing embryos, Hox genes help lay out the basic skeletal form of the body, and its up to an epigenetic regulator to prevent these genes from being activated too early. According to the researchers, the amount of SMCHD1 in the egg determines Hox gene expression, thus instructing the embryo as it develops.

Using a mouse model, when the researchers deleted maternal SMCHD1 from the egg, the offspring were born with altered skeletal structures. However, this modification did not disrupt certain histone marks (H2AK119ub and H3K27me3) from the oocyte in early embryonic development, suggesting that maternal SMCHD1 acts downstream to establish a chromatin state necessary for constant epigenetic silencing and appropriate Hox gene expression later in the growing embryo.

From the data, it was clear to the team that epigenetic information, rather than genetic, passed from the mother to offspring.

Benetti stated, While we have more than 20,000 genes in our genome, only that rare subset of about 150 imprinted genes and very few others have been shown to carry epigenetic information from one generation to another.

She emphasized how intriguing it is that a group of essential genes (EG) can also retain maternal epigenetic information, especially since EGs are highly conserved across most species and protected from mutations.

The researchers did point out that maternal SMCHD1 only exists for a few days in the egg after conception. However, while short-lived, the effects are long-lasting because SMCHD1 does not result in embryonic lethality, unlike many maternal effect genes.

Although more research is needed to fully understand the enduring impact of maternal SMCHD1 in the developing embryo, the study does show that this gene is required for properHox expression and, thus, normal skeletal patterning.

Rare developmental disorders like FSHD and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome (BAMS) have been linked with variants in the SMCHD1 gene. Using their newfound knowledge about SMCHD1, the team is currently working on finding ways to develop novel therapies to treat BAMS, FSHD, and similar developmental disorders like Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Overall, the findings from this study increase our understanding not only about maternal SMCHD1, but also on how heritable epigenetic factors influence offspring phenotypes and play a role in human disease.

Source:Natalia Benetti, et al.Maternal SMCHD1 regulates Hox gene expression and patterning in the mouse embryo.Nature Communications, August 2022.

Reference:Not all in the genes: Are we inheriting more than we think? Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. August 12, 2022.

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Researchers Find that Moms Pass On Additional Epigenetic Information To Their Children - WhatIsEpigenetics.com

Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R.,associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (perinatology and maternal-fetal medicine), OHSU School of Medicine, and Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center at OHSU. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

A physician-scientist at Oregon Health & Science University is one of just six researchers across the country to receive an Avenir Award in Genetics and Epigenetics of Substance Abuse from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., will use the award to develop and execute creative and transformative research to explore how parents behavior and environment affects their offspring before birth in some cases, even before conception.

The award is expected to provide $1.5 million over five years. NIDAs DP1 Avenir Awards support early-career investigators proposing new areas of research for the genetics or epigenetics of addiction.

Lo is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (maternal-fetal medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine and the Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) at OHSU.

Being a scientist at ONPRC has allowed for leading-edge scientific pursuits across scientific and clinical disciplines with researchers at OHSU and at other institutions, and has allowed me to leverage the translational strength of nonhuman primate models that drive scientific discovery, she said. Im grateful and really looking forward to new discoveries we can achieve next.

In her clinical practice, Lo focuses on caring for people with high-risk pregnancies. She frequently encounters patients asking about the safety of cannabis use and other substances while theyre trying to conceive, while pregnant and during breastfeeding..

Most recently, Lo published two widely publicized studies suggesting that chronic use of cannabis may greatly affect male fertilityand reproductive outcomes, and female reproductive health, including increased menstrual cycle length. The male fertility study, in nonhuman primates, used edible cannabis similar to human dosages and found significant decreases in male reproductive hormones, including testosterone, and greater than 50% shrinkage of the testicles.

In earning the elite Avenir Award, Lo credits the support shes received from her clinical and academic departments, along with collaborations forged with other scientists at OHSU, including those in the departments of urology and biomedical engineering, and researchers at other top academic institutions.

Lo plans to use the new funding to delve into how the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, affects the expression of genes in the brains of offspring. The research will set out to determine how a fathers or mothers consumption of cannabis may affect their offspring both in early childhood and later in life or even their childrens offspring.

Were going to look at whether or not those changes that happen to the sperm, egg, fetus or infant are then inherited and how they impact offspring development, she said.

Generally, due to the lack of safety data and the preliminary findings of her work, she advises expectant parents to refrain from cannabis use while pregnant and for those who cannot quit to limit use.

Lo said she feels privileged to be part of ONPRCs team of scientists making discoveries that she can bring back to patients in the clinic.

We do know that cannabis use seems likely to impact reproductive health and fertility in both males and females, and that prenatal cannabis exposure can adversely affect the placenta and fetus, Lo said. But its very hard to study cannabis in humans, especially in pregnancy, because people are often using other substances, affected by their socioeconomic conditions, limited by the inaccuracies of self-reporting, and the quantity and dose of THC used is often difficult to determine.

Using a nonhuman primate model, scientists can control background variables, including diet and exercise, that would not be possible to achieve in people. The award number is 1DP1DA056493-01, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the NIH.

OHSU IACUC

All research involving animal subjects at OHSU must be reviewed and approved by the universitysInstitutional Animal Care and Use Committee(IACUC). The IACUCs priority is to ensure the health and safety of animal research subjects. The IACUC also reviews procedures to ensure the health and safety of the people who work with the animals. The IACUC conducts a rigorous review of all animal research proposals to ensure they demonstrate scientific value and justify the use of live animals.

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Prestigious award advances OHSU research on impact of drug use over generations - OHSU News

A WIRRAL doctor has announced the launch of DNA Epigenetic testing which can detect disease in the body before it appears.

Doctor Professor Frank Joseph from Hoylake founded the company, Dam Health, which emerged as medical diagnostic leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic.

DAM Health is now expanding into new areas of healthcare, launching DNA Epigenetic testing, a kit that detects potential illness and provides life expectancy guidance.

Professor Frank Joseph, Medical Director of DAM Health, said: "DAM Health are working on a full portfolio of healthcare services and products both online and in-clinic with an array of rapid diagnostic tests to be readily available to the public, as well as point-of-care machines, which offer more in-depth results.

"The launch of an online GP will also lead us to our main objective of subscription-based healthcare.

"DAM are moving into the blood test field over the next 12 months; full blood counts, looking at the biochemistry of the blood to detect markers which might indicate certain diseases in places such as the kidney and liver.

"The DNA test kits are particularly big news and are providing popular all over the world. This is preventative healthcare in action. It is a very exciting time for the company as we set our sights on becoming a global leader in healthcare and diagnostics."

The 170 saliva test can distinguish between your chronological and biological age, with the former referring to how many years you have lived, and the latter an estimate of the body's decline based on subtle DNA markers.

The health firm also say the test can show patients what diseases they may be susceptible to, and offer an estimate of their eye, memory and hearing age.

DAM Health's Director of Research and Innovation, Dami Aboyeji, believes the new technology will become increasingly important in modern healthcare.

Aboyeji said: "DNA Epigenetics shows when people have certain changes to their genes which affect your lifestyle. This information will provide insight into intolerances and diseases you may be susceptible to, long before they appear.

"It is a wealth of information. DNA Epigenetics can tell you your biological age compared to your chronological age and advanced testing can even tell people the age of their eyes.

"In short, it is looking at what the DNA is telling us about your health and your lifestyle.

"I believe this technology is going to become so much more important in the future because we have always believed evolution is something that happens over a long period of time.

"But DNA Epigenetics shows us the changes which are happening within our lifetime and can even show people the effects drinking alcohol has on their body, or certain foods.

"On the other hand, it can give a clear idea of what we should be eating and drinking and what types of exercise are right for our body types."

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Hoylake doctor launches test that detects diseases before they appear - Wirral Globe

Signing of patent assignment from CLS Therapeutics as part of a collaboration agreement with Volition and CLS Therapeutics to develop NETs-targeted adoptive cell therapies for the treatment of cancer

FRAMINGHAM, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2022 / Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) ("Xenetic"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immune-oncology technologies for the treatment of hard to treat cancers, today announced the signing of a patent assignment from CLS Therapeutics, Inc. ("CLS") to Xenetic related to Xenetic's previously announced collaboration with VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN:VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, and CLS, a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapies based on the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. In consideration of the patent assignment, Xenetic will also issue 850,000 shares of common stock to CLS.

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc., Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Press release picture

"Our team remains intent on driving the DNase technology platform forward with the goal of improving outcomes of existing therapeutic agents in multiple solid tumor indications for which existing therapeutic agents have not been proven to be effective. Our collaboration with Volition and CLS has provided us with research and development partners with expertise and capabilities to help drive the DNase-Armored CAR T program forward. We are excited to continue building on the progress we've made thus far and on taking the next steps forward in executing on our plans to advance the DNase technology," commented Jeffrey Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Xenetic.

The Company's collaboration with Volition is an early exploratory program to evaluate the potential combination of Volition's Nu.Q technology and Xenetic's DNase-Armored CAR T platform to develop proprietary adoptive cell therapies potentially targeting multiple types of solid cancers for which current CAR T cell therapies have shown limited or no effect. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Volition will fund a research program and the two parties will share proceeds from commercialization or licensing of any products arising from the collaboration.

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Epigenetically modified nucleosomes are present on tumor cell surfaces and within the tumor microenvironment of multiple types of solid cancers, and thus these nucleosomes may represent generalizable tumor antigens that are not limited to a single cancer type. Volition's Nu.Q technology can specifically recognize and target epigenetically modified nucleosomes, while Xenetic's DNase-Armored CAR T platform is designed to enhance the function of CAR T cells within solid tumor microenvironments.

About Xenetic Biosciences

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immune-oncology technologies addressing hard to treat cancers. The Company's DNase platform is designed to improve outcomes of existing treatments, including immunotherapies, by targeting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are implicated in multiple pathways of cancer progression. Xenetic is currently focused on advancing its systemic DNase program into the clinic as an adjunctive therapy for pancreatic carcinoma and other locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

The Company is also developing its personalized CAR T platform technology, XCART, to develop cell-based therapeutics targeting the unique B-Cell receptor on the surface of an individual patient's malignant tumor cells for the treatment of B-Cell lymphomas.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.xeneticbio.com and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Xenetic Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that we intend to be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: the patent assignment and the collaboration agreement with Volition and CLS, including regarding the issuance of shares of common stock to CLS, the collaboration providing us with research and development partners with expertise and capabilities to help drive the DNase-Armored CAR T program forward, our expectations regarding continuing to build on the progress we've made thus far and on taking the next steps forward in executing on our plans to advance the DNase technology, our belief regarding the potential combination of Volition's Nu.Q technology and Xenetic's DNase-Armored CAR T platform leading to the development of proprietary adoptive cell therapies potentially targeting multiple types of solid cancers for which current CAR T cell therapies have shown limited or no effect, the terms of the collaboration agreement, pursuant to which Volition will fund a research program and the two parties will share proceeds from commercialization or licensing of any products arising from the collaboration, and the potential for nucleosomes to represent generalizable tumor antigens that are not limited to a single cancer type; all statements regarding our expectations with respect to our DNase oncology platform, including our expectations to remain intent on driving the DNase technology platform forward with the goal of improving outcomes of existing therapeutic agents in multiple solid tumor indications for which existing therapeutic agents have not been proven to be effective, our expectations to focus on advancing the systemic DNase program into the clinic as an adjunctive therapy for pancreatic carcinoma and other locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, and our belief that the DNase platform is designed to enhance the function of CAR T cells within solid tumor microenvironments; and plans regarding our personalized CAR T platform technology, XCART, being used to develop cell-based therapeutics targeting the unique B-Cell receptor on the surface of an individual patient's malignant tumor cells for the treatment of B-Cell lymphomas. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual activities, performance, achievements, or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual activities, performance, achievements, or results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the collaboration agreement with Volition and CLS; (2) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the licensing of the DNase platform or the patent assignment; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company following the licensing of the DNase platform; (4) failure to realize the anticipated potential of the DNase, XCART or PolyXen technologies; (5) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; and (6) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, general economic and business conditions, including potential adverse effects of public health issues, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, and geopolitical events, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on economic activity, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new product candidates and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Xenetic Contact:JTC Team, LLCJenene Thomas(833) 475-8247xbio@jtcir.com

SOURCE: Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.

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Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. Announces Signing of Patent Assignment Related to Collaboration With VolitionRx Limited and CLS Therapeutics - Yahoo Finance