Epigenetics in disease and cancer
- Author:
Kong-Bung CHOO
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Gene expression, epigenetics, microRNA, DNA methylation, chromatin modifi cation,cancer, disease
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2011;33(2):61-70
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Since the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA, genetic regulation of gene expression has
been well elucidated. More recently, another equally, if not more, important scheme of regulation
of gene expression, called epigenetics, has emerged to explain the many biological observations that
traditional genetic mechanisms have failed to decipher. Epigenetics is a discipline of study on the
biological consequences of cellular alterations that do not involve nucleotide changes, as opposed
to genetic mutations. Epigenetic changes are reversible and may lead to loss or gain of biological
functions. The three most reported mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression involve
changes in: (i) chromatin remodelling, (ii) DNA methylation and (iii) microRNA (miRNA). More
importantly, many of the elucidated epigenetic changes are linked to the pathogenesis of human
diseases and cancers. In this mini review, core concepts and basic experimental approaches in the study
of epigenetic regulation of gene expression are briefl y reviewed in relation to disease, with emphasis
on cancer. This mini review also intends to highlight the fact that, besides genetics, epigenetics is
now a discipline physicians and clinical research scientists can no longer ignore in their pursuit to
understand disease and cancer and to develop new therapeutic strategies for treatment.
