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UK IND-ISPG Studentship: How does vitamin D maintain gut health

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042688
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Paul Kroon
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	41,552
Status	Current
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2012
End date	30/09/2016
Duration	47 months

Abstract

Convincing evidence exists for the preventive effect of increased vitamin D status on colon cancer risk. However, since a significant proportion of the UK population is vitamin D deficient, particularly during the winter months, this represents a significant public health concern. Colon carcinogenesis is associated with altered epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, which modulate the expression of genes important for controlling cancer development. We have recently demonstrated that the abnormal DNA methylation of these genes in the healthy human colon is induced during ageing but the rate of its acquisition is significantly influenced by vitamin D status. Vitamin D has previously been suggested to affect cancer risk via postulated mechanisms that include effects on cell signalling pathways, modulation of innate immune responses and promoting epithelial barrier integrity. This project will therefore explore the hypothesis that vitamin D influences colon cancer risk by modifying the epigenetic regulation of genes involved in these processes. The project will utilise a recently developed colonic epithelial stem cell culture system to elucidate the mechanisms by which vitamin D modulates abnormal, age-related DNA methylation and determine the consequences these changes have for gene expression, signalling pathways and ultimately the cell.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Ageing, Diet and Health, Stem Cells
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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