Epigenetic mechanisms in the context of complex diseases

被引:113
作者
van Vliet, J. [1 ]
Oates, N. A. [1 ]
Whitelaw, E. [1 ]
机构
[1] Queensland Inst Med Res, Div Populat Studies & Human Genet, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
关键词
epigenetics; DNA methylation; histone modifications; complex diseases; cancer; schizophrenia; autism; systemic lupus erythematosus;
D O I
10.1007/s00018-007-6526-z
中图分类号
Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];
学科分类号
071010 ; 081704 ;
摘要
Complex diseases arise from a combination of heritable and environmental factors. The contribution made by environmental factors may be mediated through epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that occur without a change in DNA sequence and are meiotically or mitotically heritable. Such changes in gene expression are achieved through the methylation of DNA, the post-translational modifications of histone proteins, and RNA-based silencing. Epigenetics has been implicated in complex diseases such as cancer, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and systemic lupus erythematosus. The prevalence and severity of these diseases may be influenced by factors that affect the epigenotype, such as ageing, folate status, in vitro fertilization and our ancestors' lifestyles. Although our understanding of the role played by epigenetics in complex diseases remains in its infancy, it has already led to the development of novel diagnostic methods and treatments, which augurs well for its future health benefits.
引用
收藏
页码:1531 / 1538
页数:8
相关论文
共 97 条
[1]   Hypomethylation of MB-COMT promoter is a major risk factor for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder [J].
Abdolmaleky, Hamid Mostafavi ;
Cheng, Kuang-hung ;
Faraone, Stephen V. ;
Wilcox, Marsha ;
Glatt, Stephen J. ;
Gao, Fangming ;
Smith, Cassandra L. ;
Shafa, Rahim ;
Aeali, Batol ;
Carnevale, Julie ;
Pan, Hongjie ;
Papageorgis, Panagiotis ;
Ponte, Jose F. ;
Sivaraman, Vadivelu ;
Tsuang, Ming T. ;
Thiagalingam, Sam .
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS, 2006, 15 (21) :3132-3145
[2]   Marked and independent prognostic significance of the CpG island methylator phenotype in neuroblastomas [J].
Abe, Masanobu ;
Westermann, Frank ;
Nakagawara, Akira ;
Takato, Tsuyoshi ;
Schwab, Manfred ;
Ushijima, Toshikazu .
CANCER LETTERS, 2007, 247 (02) :253-258
[3]   EFFECTS OF L-METHIONINE (WITHOUT MAOI) IN SCHIZOPHRENIA [J].
ANTUN, FT ;
BURNETT, GB ;
COOPER, AJ ;
DALY, RJ ;
SMYTHIES, JR ;
ZEALLEY, AK .
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, 1971, 8 (02) :63-&
[4]   Endocrine disruptor vinclozolin induced epigenetic transgenerational adult-onset disease [J].
Anway, Matthew D. ;
Leathers, Charles ;
Skinner, Michael K. .
ENDOCRINOLOGY, 2006, 147 (12) :5515-5523
[5]   Epigenetic transgenerational actions of endocrine disruptors and mate fertility [J].
Anway, MD ;
Cupp, AS ;
Uzumcu, M ;
Skinner, MK .
SCIENCE, 2005, 308 (5727) :1466-1469
[6]   Neonatal treatment of rats with diethylstilboestrol (DES) induces stromal-epithelial abnormalities of the vas deferens and cauda epididymis in adulthood following delayed basal cell development [J].
Atanassova, N ;
McKinnell, C ;
Fisher, J ;
Sharpe, RM .
REPRODUCTION, 2005, 129 (05) :589-601
[7]   Gene regulation - A finger on the mark [J].
Becker, PB .
NATURE, 2006, 442 (7098) :31-32
[8]   Gene-promoter hypermethylation as a biomarker in lung cancer [J].
Belinsky, SA .
NATURE REVIEWS CANCER, 2004, 4 (09) :707-717
[9]   DANISH TWIN STUDY OF MANIC-DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS [J].
BERTELSEN, A ;
HARVALD, B ;
HAUGE, M .
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 1977, 130 (APR) :330-351
[10]   A new RNA dimension to genome control [J].
Carthew, Richard W. .
SCIENCE, 2006, 313 (5785) :305-306