Review
Dermatology
Chang Zeng, Lam C. Tsoi, Johann E. Gudjonsson
Summary: The incidence of psoriasis is increasing over time, with recent studies pointing towards the importance of epigenetic modifications in its pathogenesis. Aberrant epigenetic patterns, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA expression, are observed in psoriatic skin. Reversing these epigenetic mechanisms has shown promise in improving psoriatic phenotypes, making epigenetic therapy a potential avenue for treating psoriasis.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Fei Xu, Wenhui Li, Xiao Yang, Lixin Na, Linjun Chen, Guobin Liu
Summary: Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease characterized by decreased bone mineral density and bone microstructure destruction. Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, play an important role in post-transcriptional regulation and are closely related to bone metabolism processes such as osteogenic differentiation and bone remodeling. Abnormal epigenetic regulation can lead to bone metabolism-related diseases like osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of understanding epigenetic mechanisms for potential treatments.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irina Bure, Marina Nemtsova, Ekaterina B. Kuznetsova
Summary: In recent years, scientists have increasingly suggested and confirmed that epigenetic regulators are closely linked and form a comprehensive network of regulatory pathways and feedback loops. This is particularly important for a better understanding of the development and progression of various diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavio Di Michele, Isabel Chillon, Robert Feil
Summary: Imprinted genes have diverse roles in mammalian development, homeostasis, and disease. Most imprinted chromosomal domains express long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which control the expression of protein-coding genes. The aberrant regulation of imprinted gene expression, including imprinted lncRNAs, can have long-lasting phenotypic consequences and is associated with human disease syndromes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Lin-Hui Ma, Jing Yan, Xin-Hao Jiao, Cheng-Hua Zhou, Yu-Qing Wu
Summary: The definite mechanism of how anesthesia affects cognition in neonates remains largely unknown, but epigenetic modifications have been identified as playing a significant role. This review discusses the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in neonatal anesthesia-induced cognitive dysfunction and analyzes the potential of targeting epigenetics for treatment.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Jing Wang, Xiguang Sun, Zongxing Yang, Sijie Li, Yufeng Wang, Ruoxue Ren, Ziyue Liu, Dehai Yu
Summary: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a complex disease characterized by amenorrhea, decreased estrogen levels, and increased female gonadotropin levels. Epigenetic changes, in addition to genetic factors, play an important role in the development of POF. However, there is limited research summarizing the epigenetic variations in POF, making a systematic analysis necessary. This article reviews the literature and explains the relationship between DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA expression, and the development of POF, providing potential therapeutic clues for improving ovarian function in POF patients.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yu Wang, Zhao Huang, Bowen Li, Lin Liu, Canhua Huang
Summary: This article reviews the epigenetic regulation of ovarian cancer drug resistance and highlights the important role of epigenetic modifications, including upregulation of multidrug resistance proteins, remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, and deregulated immune response, in drug resistance of ovarian cancer. A better understanding of these mechanisms may improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Lei Zhao, Ranakul Islam, Yifang Wang, Xiujuan Zhang, Ling-Zhi Liu
Summary: Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals is a risk factor for cancer, but the molecular mechanisms of how heavy metals induce carcinogenesis are still unclear. Recent studies have shown that abnormal epigenetic modifications are involved in metal-induced cancers. This review summarizes the up-to-date understanding of the contributions of epigenetic mechanisms to heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis and angiogenesis.
Review
Plant Sciences
Kajal Samantara, Aalok Shiv, Lorenna Lopes de Sousa, Karansher Singh Sandhu, Parichita Priyadarshini, Sourav Ranjan Mohapatra
Summary: Epigenetics is an important mechanism that can help plants cope with various stressors by altering gene expression without involving changes in DNA sequences. It provides diversity to aid plants in responding to the impacts of climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lemeng Feng, Chao Wang, Cheng Zhang, Wulong Zhang, Weitao Song
Summary: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and lowering intraocular pressure is currently the only effective clinical treatment. However, there is a lack of long-acting drugs to lower intraocular pressure, and some patients still experience loss of retinal ganglion cells despite good control of intraocular pressure. Currently, there are no effective clinical methods for neuroprotection and regeneration in glaucoma. Recent studies have shown that epigenetics plays a crucial role in neuroprotection and regeneration in glaucoma.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Rocio Nunez-Vazquez, Benedicte Desvoyes, Crisanto Gutierrez
Summary: Plants have developed various mechanisms to adapt to abiotic stresses, which involve transcriptional regulation and chromatin modifications. Understanding and manipulating these regulatory networks are crucial for enhancing crop resilience and performance against stress.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhe Weng, Fengying Ruan, Weitian Chen, Zhichao Chen, Yeming Xie, Meng Luo, Zhe Xie, Chen Zhang, Juan Wang, Yuxin Sun, Yitong Fang, Mei Guo, Chen Tan, Wenfang Chen, Yiqin Tong, Yaning Li, Hongqi Wang, Chong Tang
Summary: BIND&MODIFY is a method that uses long-read sequencing to analyze histone modifications and transcription factors on individual DNA fibers. It can simultaneously measure histone modification status, transcription factor binding, and CpG 5mC methylation at single-molecule resolution, and quantify the correlation between local and distal elements.
Review
Immunology
Yiouli P. Ktena, Margarita Dionysiou, Lukasz P. Gondek, Kenneth R. Cooke
Summary: Epigenetics studies the regulation of gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. It plays a vital role in cellular homeostasis, differentiation, hematopoiesis, and immunity. Epigenetic modifications can be heritable and reversible, and there is growing interest in their potential role in allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation. This review provides an overview of epigenetic modifications and their functions, focusing on hematopoiesis and immunity in the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Qian Xiang, Yongzhao Zhao, Jialiang Lin, Shuai Jiang, Weishi Li
Summary: This study systematically discusses the different epigenetic modifications and their potential functions in the process of spinal ligament aging.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Tongxuan Wen, Tong Li, Yeqiu Xu, Yuanzhuang Zhang, Hai Pan, Yong Wang
Summary: Abnormal RNA processing due to dysregulation of m6A modification plays a critical role in tumor pathogenesis and potential mechanisms of action. In this review, the mechanisms by which m6A modification regulates mRNA and ncRNA processing in tumors are comprehensively explored, aiming to understand the important regulatory function of m6A modification in tumor cells and provide theoretical support for tumor diagnosis and treatment.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Nozomi Takahashi, Andrea Coluccio, Christian W. Thorball, Evarist Planet, Hui Shi, Sandra Offner, Priscilla Turelli, Michael Imbeault, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Didier Trono
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2019)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valter Tucci, Anthony R. Isles, Gavin Kelsey, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marlene Lorgen-Ritchie, Alison D. Murray, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Marcus Richards, Graham W. Horgan, Louise H. Phillips, Gwen Hoad, Ishbel Gall, Kristina Harrison, Geraldine McNeill, Mitsuteru Ito, Paul Haggarty
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marlene Lorgen-Ritchie, Alison D. Murray, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Marcus Richards, Graham W. Horgan, Louise H. Phillips, Gwen Hoad, Ishbel Gall, Kristina Harrison, Geraldine McNeill, Mitsuteru Ito, Paul Haggarty
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hui Shi, Ruslan Strogantsev, Nozomi Takahashi, Anastasiya Kazachenka, Matthew C. Lorincz, Myriam Hemberger, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
EPIGENETICS & CHROMATIN
(2019)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Geula Hanin, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jessica L. Elmer, Amir D. Hay, Noah J. Kessler, Tessa M. Bertozzi, Eve A. C. Ainscough, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
Summary: Our study validates the existence of variable methylation at intracisternal A particle transposable elements (IAPs) in mice. We also identify a novel class of IAPs with tissue-specific methylation patterns, in addition to those with uniform methylation across all tissues, both of which have the potential to regulate genes in cis. Furthermore, we find that this variability in methylation is specific to IAPs, which are among the youngest and most active endogenous retroviruses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bjorn Thor Adalsteinsson, Thordis Kristjansdottir, William Merre, Alexandra Helleux, Julia Dusaucy, Mathilde Tourigny, Olafur Fridjonsson, Gudmundur Oli Hreggvidsson
Summary: Thermophilic organisms have been extensively studied in various fields, such as industrial biotechnology and exploration of life limits. This study successfully developed a thermostable CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome editing of thermophiles, demonstrating targetable nuclease activity at temperatures up to 65 degrees C. The results of this research may facilitate the development of genome editing tools for other extreme thermophiles, as the vector has been made available for further research and use.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Tessa M. Bertozzi, Nozomi Takahashi, Geula Hanin, Anastasiya Kazachenka, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
Summary: In this study, a solo LTR IAP variant (Iap5-1(solo)) lacking DNA methylation and H3K9 trimethylation was identified in the inbred C57BL/6J mouse strain, contrasting with the full-length IAP at the same locus. The differential DNA methylation levels of the two alleles are established during preimplantation development and are associated with metabolic differences and tissue-specific changes in adjacent gene expression. The findings suggest that the epigenetic modification of these two IAP variants may play a role in transposable element repression and host-element co-evolution.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rahia Mashoodh, Lisa C. Hulsmann, Frances L. Dearden, Nozomi Takahashi, Carol Edwards, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
Summary: In this study, imprinting genes were used as a model system to investigate the relationship between the parental origin of chromosomes, the localization of genes within the cell nucleus, and their active expression. The results indicate that there is a small preference for the paternal chromosome to be closer to the periphery, but there is a significant correlation between transcription and distance to the edge of the nucleus for the Gtl2/Meg3 gene. Furthermore, a chromosome nearer the periphery is just as likely to express the gene as the chromosome further away. These findings suggest that the parental origin of the chromosome may not be as important as the transcription of the gene in defining the position of the imprinted region within the nucleus.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Jason B. Wolf, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Alexander Lorenz
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ariella Weinberg-Shukron, Raz Ben-Yair, Nozomi Takahashi, Marko Dunjic, Alon Shtrikman, Carol A. Edwards, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Yonatan Stelzer
Summary: This study investigates the impact of parental imprinting on gene expression and phenotypic outcomes, and reveals that the parental origin of the epigenetic state is less important than balanced gene dosage for normal development.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Carol A. Edwards, William M. D. Watkinson, Stephanie B. Telerman, Lisa C. Hulsmann, Russell S. Hamilton, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Deborah Bourc'his
Summary: In mice and humans, imprinting genes play important roles in development, behavior, and post-natal adaptations. Failure to properly imprint genes in humans is associated with various disorders and diseases. Researchers have used RNA-seq technologies and hybrid mouse strains to identify novel imprinted genes, leading to an increase in reported genes with parental origin-specific expression bias. However, validation experiments show that many of these genes are not genuine imprinted genes and that the mouse strain has a greater influence on expression biases than parental origin.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amir D. Hay, Noah J. Kessler, Daniel Gebert, Nozomi Takahashi, Hugo Tavares, Felipe K. Teixeira, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
Summary: A study found that DNA methylation is generally stable at hypo- and hypermethylated sites, but not at intermediately methylated sites. The lack of clonal inheritance at these sites challenges the current model of epigenetic inheritance and has implications for the functional relevance and interpretability of DNA methylation as a stable epigenetic mark.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Carol A. Edwards, Nozomi Takahashi, Jennifer A. Corish, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2019)