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Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-3030.jcgb-18-2428
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are the most prevalent and aggressive type of cancers. Genetic, epigenetic, environmental and viral risk-factors are associated with HNC carcinogenesis. Persistent infection of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) represent distinct biological, molecular and epigenetic entities in HNCs. There are three main epigenetic mechanisms that regulate transcription, these are DNA methylation, histone modifications and alteration in non-coding RNA networks, which can dissected to identify innovative and accurate epigenetic biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of HNC patients. Due to the lacunae of accurate distinctive biomarkers for the definite diagnosis of HNC, the identification of predictive epigenetic markers is necessary that might modify or increase HNC patient’s survival. In this mini review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge of different epigenetic biomarkers in HNC.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-9467.jgrc-18-2270
Rice, as one of the most important crops in the world, is facing an ever-accelerating challenge from climate change. Epigenetic modification with its substantially high epimutation rate and the possibility for some epigenetic variation to act as a heritable contributor to crop environmental adaptability may hold great potentials for rapid crop breeding. Epigenetic modification is controlled by epigenetic pathways, and mutations disturbing the epigenetic pathways may lead to significant epigenetic and/or genetic changes. This is especially true for rice, whose genome is rich in epigenetic modifications and transposable elements (TEs) that are generally epigenetically silenced. Here, in this paper, we first reviewed the pathways that establish, maintain and remove rice DNA methylation, which is the most well studied epigenetic marker, as well as the genes that are involved. We then discussed how TEs amplify the phenotypic impact of epigenetic changes that could be a result of epigenetic pathway disturbances. At last, we presented the enormous amount of rice genome data that are publically available, within which great genetic variation in the genes that are involved within the epigenetic pathways is embedded. This genetic variation awaits to be exploited for their potentials in generating a heritable source of variation for rapid environmental adaptation, which may hold tremendous importance for rice breeding in the face of climate change.
May 2018
Genetics alone cannot thoroughly expound the environmental impact on the molecular complexity of the endocrine system. Epigenetic-induced alteration in gene expression has emerged as a way in which environmental compounds may exert endocrine effects. The environmental compounds that interfere with normal endocrine signaling are one of the largest classes of toxicants we are exposed to, on a daily basis. Epigenetic mechanisms, mainly the methylation of DNA and the modification of histones, lead to differentiated activation and deactivation of genome domains creating phenotype plasticity and divergent endocrine function among populations and individuals, as well. The issues examined in the present review are related to environmental epigenetics, and more precisely, the epigenetic-mediated modulation and relevance of endocrine disrupting chemicals, focusing on three broad aspects: 1) persistence of EDs, 2) their major hormonal effects and 3) the potential of compounds previously considered as endocrine disruptors to induce epigenetic effects. Evidence suggests that environmental exposures notably impact expression of endocrine-related genes and, thus, affect clinical endocrine outcomes.
May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-603
Epigenetic mechanisms based on DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA interference have recently showed important association to the development of a wide variety of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, skin, autoimmune diseases and neurologic disorders. In the context of preventive aspects, the importance of nutrition on epigenetic function has been revealed. Therefore, drastic changes in dietary modifications may contribute to reduced disease risk. For instance, dietary intervention has been showed to affect DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Moreover, maternal high-fat diet can regulate gene expression through promoter histone modifications. Most importantly, RNA interference and particularly micro-RNA mediated regulation of gene expression has been linked to disease development. Remarkably, dietary intake has been demonstrated to significantly affect various miRNAs and their regulation on gene function. In this review, the relationship between epigenetics and disease and development of drugs based on epigenetic targets is presented as well as the influence of dietary intake on epigenetic mechanisms and its effect on disease prevention and therapy will be discussed.