EPIGENETICS AND ITS ROLE IN DISEASE DEVELOPMENT.
Abstract
This article reviews the biological basis of epigenetics and its important role in the development of diseases. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, regulate gene expression without altering the DNA sequence and are important in cellular function and organismal adaptation. The article highlights the association of epigenetic changes with cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and immune diseases. The diagnostic and prognostic significance of epigenetic biomarkers and the prospects for epigenetic therapy are also reviewed.
References
1. Allis, C. D., Jenuwein, T., & Reinberg, D. (2015). Epigenetics (2nd ed.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
2. Feinberg, A. P. (2018). The key role of epigenetics in human disease prevention and mitigation. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(14), 1323–1334.
3. Bird, A. (2007). Perceptions of epigenetics. Nature, 447(7143), 396–398.
4. Portela, A., & Esteller, M. (2010). Epigenetic modifications and human disease. Nature Biotechnology, 28(10), 1057–1068.
5. Jones, P. A., & Baylin, S. B. (2007). The epigenomics of cancer. Cell, 128(4), 683–692.
6. Handy, D. E., Castro, R., & Loscalzo, J. (2011). Epigenetic modifications: basic mechanisms and role in cardiovascular disease. Circulation, 123(19), 2145–2156.
