Clinical implications of DNA methylation for kidney transplantation

The main objective of this thesis is to explore the role of DNA methylation changes in complications after kidney transplantation. To answer this two complementary approaches were employed.
• First, we aim to unravel if environmental conditions relevant in transplantation affect DNA methylation; by investigating the stability of DNA methylation in experimental, in vitro systems in the presence of immunosuppressive drugs and cytokines.
• Second, we explore whether DNA methylation profiles can identify kidney transplant recipients who are at increased risk for rejection or skin cancer after kidney transplantation.