表观遗传学长期以来一直被认为是生物学中的重要领域,并且被定义为研究不归因于DNA序列变化的基因表达模式的任何变化。表观遗传标记,包括组蛋白修饰,非编码RNA,和DNA甲基化,在基因调控中起着至关重要的作用。已经在人类中进行了许多关于DNA甲基化的单核苷酸分辨率的研究,CpG岛,新的组蛋白修饰,和全基因组核小体定位。这些研究表明,表观遗传突变和这些表观遗传标记的异常位置在引起疾病中起关键作用。因此,生物医学研究在识别表观遗传机制方面取得了重大进展,他们的互动,以及健康和疾病状况的变化。这篇综述文章的目的是提供有关由DNA甲基化和组蛋白乙酰化或甲基化等表观遗传因素改变引起的不同类型疾病的全面信息。最近的研究报道,表观遗传学可以通过基因启动子区域的异常甲基化影响人类癌症的进化。这与基因功能降低有关。此外,DNA甲基化过程中的DNA甲基转移酶(DNMTs)以及组蛋白乙酰转移酶(HATs)/组蛋白脱乙酰酶(HDACs)和组蛋白甲基转移酶(HMTs)/去甲基酶(HDMs)在组蛋白修饰中在靶基因转录的催化和抑制以及许多其他DNA过程中发挥重要作用,例如修复,复制,和重组。这些酶的功能障碍导致表观遗传疾病,因此,各种疾病,如癌症和脑部疾病。因此,如何通过使用表观遗传药物修饰异常DNA甲基化以及通过抑制剂修饰异常组蛋白乙酰化或甲基化的知识可能是许多疾病的合适治疗方法。利用DNA甲基化和组蛋白修饰抑制剂的协同作用,希望将来能够治疗许多表观遗传缺陷。许多研究表明表观遗传标记与其对大脑和癌症疾病的影响之间存在联系。设计合适的药物可以在不久的将来为这些疾病的管理提供新的策略。
Epigenetics has long been recognized as a significant field in biology and is defined as the investigation of any alteration in gene expression patterns that is not attributed to changes in the DNA sequences. Epigenetic marks, including histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and DNA methylation, play crucial roles in gene regulation. Numerous studies in humans have been carried out on single-nucleotide resolution of DNA methylation, the CpG island, new histone modifications, and genome-wide nucleosome positioning. These studies indicate that epigenetic mutations and aberrant placement of these epigenetic marks play a critical role in causing the disease. Consequently, significant development has occurred in biomedical research in identifying epigenetic mechanisms, their interactions, and changes in health and disease conditions. The purpose of this
review article is to provide comprehensive information about the different types of diseases caused by alterations in epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation or methylation. Recent studies reported that epigenetics could influence the evolution of human cancer via aberrant methylation of gene promoter regions, which is associated with reduced gene function. Furthermore, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in the DNA methylation process as well as histone acetyltransferases (HATs)/histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone methyltransferases (HMTs)/demethylases (HDMs) in histone modifications play important roles both in the catalysis and inhibition of target gene transcription and in many other DNA processes such as repair, replication, and recombination. Dysfunction in these enzymes leads to epigenetic disorders and, as a result, various diseases such as cancers and brain diseases. Consequently, the knowledge of how to modify aberrant DNA methylation as well as aberrant histone acetylation or methylation via inhibitors by using epigenetic drugs can be a suitable therapeutic approach for a number of diseases. Using the synergistic effects of DNA methylation and histone modification inhibitors, it is hoped that many epigenetic defects will be treated in the future. Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between epigenetic marks and their effects on brain and cancer diseases. Designing appropriate drugs could provide novel strategies for the management of these diseases in the near future.