Non-random epigenetic silencing of retinoic acid regulated gene networks in human cells

Introduction: Cellular retinoic acid metabolism and homeostasis; Epigenetic gene regulation by retinoic acid; Retinoic acid signalling in breast development and morphogenesis; Disruption of epigenetic retinoic acid signalling in breast tumorigenesis. Scope of the thesis Materials and Methods Experimental Work: An impaired RA signal leads to RARbeta2 epigenetic silencing and RA resistance; Impairment of RA-RARalfa signalling leads to the concerted epigenetic silencing of RARbeta2 and CRBP1 in untransformed human breast epithelial cells; Mechanistic relationship between RARbeta2 and CRBP1 transcription and different phenotypes of breast epithelial cell transformation: Implications for predicting breast cancer risk; CRABP2 downregulation results in epigenetic dysregulation of RA signalling and consequent breast epithelial cell transformation. General Discussion Summary References Curriculum Vitae