• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2007

Conjugation of the methyl group at the fifth carbon of cytosines within the palindromic dinucleotide 5'-CpG-3' sequence (DNA methylation) is the best studied epigenetic mechanism, which acts together with other epigenetic entities: histone modification, chromatin remodeling and microRNAs to shape the chromatin structure of DNA according to its functional state. The cancer genome is frequently characterized by hypermethylation of specific genes concurrently with an overall decrease in the level of 5-methyl cytosine, the pathological implication of which to the cancerous state has been well established. While the latest genome-wide technologies have been applied to classify and interpret the epigenetic layer of gene regulation in the physiological and disease states, the epigenetic testing has also been seriously explored in clinical practice for early detection, refining tumor staging and predicting disease recurrence. This critique reviews the latest research findings on the use of DNA methylation in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and staging/classification.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.169-172
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• 2018

In recent years, a number of studies have been reported on the various types of cancer arising from epigenetic alterations, including reports that these epigenetic alterations occur as a result of radiation exposure or infection. Thyroid cancer and breast cancer, in particular, have high cancer burden, and it has been confirmed that radiation exposure or onco-viral infection are linked to increased risk of development of these two types of cancer, respectively. Thus, the environment-epigenetic alteration-cancer occurrence (EEC) hypothesis has been suggested. This paper reviews the trends in research supporting this hypothesis for radiation exposure and onco-viral infection. If more evidences accumulate for the EEC hypothesis from future research, those findings may greatly aid in the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the thyroid cancer and breast cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.649-655
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• 2010

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder and shows progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Intraneuronal filaments composed of aggregated hyperphosphorylated tau protein, called neurofibrillary tangles, along with extracellular accumulations of amyloid $\beta$ protein (A$\beta$), called senile plaques, are known to be the neuropathological hallmarks of AD. In light of recent studies, epigenetic modification has emerged as one of the pathogenic mechanisms of AD. Epigenetic changes encompass an array of molecular modifications to both DNA and chromatin, including transcription factors and cofactors. In this review, we summarize how DNA methylation and changes to DNA chromatin packaging by post-translational histone modification are involved in AD. In addition, we describe the role of SIRTs, histone deacetylases, and the effect of SIRT-modulating drugs on AD. Lastly, we discuss how amyloid precursor protein (APP) intracellular domain (AICD) regulates neuronal transcription. Our understanding of the epigenomes and transcriptomes of AD may warrant future identification of novel biological markers and beneficial therapeutic targets for AD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2013

Periodontitis is a common oral disease that is characterized by infection and inflammation of the tooth supporting tissues. While its incidence is highly associated with outgrowth of the pathogenic microbiome, some patients show signs of predisposition and quickly fall into recurrence after treatment. Recent research using genetic associations of candidates as well as genome-wide analysis highlights that variations in genes related to the inflammatory response are associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. Intriguingly, some of the genes are regulated by epigenetic modifications, supposedly established and reprogrammed in response to environmental stimuli. In addition, the treatment with epigenetic drugs improves treatment of periodontitis in a mouse model. In this review, we highlight some of the recent progress identifying genetic factors associated with periodontitis and point to promising approaches in epigenetic research that may contribute to the understanding of molecular mechanisms involving different responses in individuals and the early detection of predispositions that may guide in future oral treatment and disease prevention.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2018

Cancer cells reprogram cellular metabolism to support the malignant features of tumors, such as rapid growth and proliferation. The cancer promoting effects of metabolic reprogramming are found in many aspects: generating additional energy, providing more anabolic molecules for biosynthesis, and rebalancing cellular redox states in cancer cells. Metabolic pathways are considered the pipelines to supply metabolic cofactors of epigenetic modifiers. In this regard, cancer metabolism, whereby cellular metabolite levels are greatly altered compared to normal levels, is closely associated with cancer epigenetics, which is implicated in many stages of tumorigenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of cancer metabolism and its involvement in epigenetic modifications and suggest that the metabolic adaptation leading to epigenetic changes in cancer cells is an important non-genetic factor for tumor progression, which cooperates with genetic causes. Understanding the interaction of metabolic reprogramming with epigenetics in cancers may help to develop novel or highly improved therapeutic strategies that target cancer metabolism.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.25-31
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• 2001

During early development, a dramatic reduction in methylation levels occurs in mouse (Monk et al., 1987). The process of epigenetic reprogramming in early embryos erases gamete-specific methylation patterns inherited from the parents (Howlett ＆ Reik 1991, Monk et al., 1987, Oswald et al., 2000, Sanford et al., 1984). This genome-wide demethylation process may be a prerequisite for the formation of pluripotent stem cells that are important for the later development (Reik ＆ Surani 1997). During post-implantation development, a wave of de novo methylation takes place; most of the genomic DNA is methylated at defined developmental timepoints, whereas tissue-specific genes undergo demethylation in their tissues of expression (Kafri et al., 1992, Razin ＆ Kafri 1994). Another demethylation-remethylation cycle of epigenetic reprogramming takes place during gametogenesis and is necessary for resetting of genomic imprinting (Solter 1988). The dynamic epigenetic reprogramming events appear to be basic and are probably conserved in eutherian mammals (see below). (omitted)

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.24.1-24.8
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• 2019

Early environmental exposure is recognized as a key factor for long-term health based on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. It considers that early-life nutrition is now being recognized as a major contributor that may permanently program change of organ structure and function toward the development of diseases, in which epigenetic mechanisms are involved. Recent researches indicate early-life environmental factors modulate the microbiome development and the microbiome might be mediate diet-epigenetic interaction. This review aims to define which nutrients involve microbiome development during the critical window of susceptibility to disease, and how microbiome modulation regulates epigenetic changes and influences human health and future prevention strategies.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2020

Objectives To review the epigenetic modifications involved in chronic pain and to improve individualized intervention for the chronic pain. Methods Focused literature review. Results Significant laboratory and clinical data support that epigenetic modifications have a potential role for development of chronic pain. Conclusions Epigenetic approach may identify mechanisms critical to the development of chronic pain after injury, and may provide new pathways and target mechanisms for future treatment and individualized medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4539-4543
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• 2014

Since the epigenetic alteration in tumor cells can be reversed by the dietary polyphenol quercetin (Q) or butyrate (B) with chemopreventive activity, suggesting that Q or B can be used for chemopreventive as well as therapeutic agent against tumors. In this study the polyphenol flavonoid quercetin (Q) or sodium butyrate (B) suppressed human esophageal 9706 cancer cell growth in dose dependent manner, and Q combined with B (Q+B) could further inhibit Eca9706 cell proliferation than that induced by Q or B alone, compared with untreated control group (C) in MTT assay. The reverse expressions of global DNMT1, $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$, HDAC1 and Cyclin D1 were down-regulated, while expressions of caspase-3 and $p16INK4{\alpha}$ were up-regulated, compared with the C group in immunoblotting; the down-regulated HDAC1-IR (-immunoreactivity) with nuclear translocation, and up-regulated E-cadherin-IR demonstrated in immunocytochemistry treated by Q or B, and Q+B also displayed further negatively and positively modulated effects compared with C group. The order of methylation specific (MS) PCR of $p16INK4{\alpha}$: C>B/Q>Q+B group, while the order of E-cadherin expression level was contrary, Q+B>Q/B>C group. Thus, Q/B, especially Q+B display reverse effect targeting both altered DNA methylation and histone acetylation, acting as histone deacetylase inhibitor mediated via epigenetic-$NF-{\kappa}B$ cascade signaling.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.511-517
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• 2005

Low sensitivity to anticancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been associated with decreased expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. Recently, it has been shown that the expression levels of some of these genes are reduced by transcription inhibition due to epigenetic silencing on CpG islands. Therefore, epigenetic therapy has been proposed, where epigenetic silencing is repressed with DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of our study was to evaluate the combination effect of 5-FU and its association with the status of epigenetic silencing using methylation-specific PCR of $p14^{ARF}$ when given with S-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), a DNMT inhibitor and depsipeptide, an HDAC inhibitor in DLD-1 human colorectal cancer cells. The combination of 5-aza-dC with depsipeptide showed a synergism and induced unmethylation of $p14^{ARF}$. However, triplet combination of 5-aza-dc/depsipeptide and 5-FU resulted in antagonistic effects and abrogated unmethylation of $p14^{ARF}$. These results suggest that unfavorable interaction of 5-aza-dC/depsipeptide with 5-FU in DLD-1 cells may be related with the failure in repression of epigenetic silencing, which warrants further investigation.