ABSTRACT
Epigenetics is a researching hot topic of worldwide now.Increasing evidence shows that the pathogenesis of human diseases is not only influenced by the abnormalities of genetic factors but also by epigenetic mechanisms.Recent technological advances in epigenomic profiling has led to further understanding of the role epigenetic factors played in development,inflammation,aging,immunity,angiogenesis,tumorigenesis,and stem cell biology.The researchers in ophthalmology should pay close attention to the current research of major epigenetic mechanisms and their involvement in human diseases,especially ocular diseases.Moreover,the potential application of epigenetic drugs in the treatment of common human diseases also should be understood.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives underlying epigenetic research are discussed in this editorial paper.
ABSTRACT
Epigenetics has become a hot topic in biomedical research in last a few years.Epigenetics refers to as epigenome,and it is interpreted as epigenetic changes (DNA methylation,histone modifications and non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs) in the regulation of genes expression on chromatin-based pathways rather than a single gene.Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation,histone modification and miRNA serve as an interface for environmental stimuli and interacts each other to regulate gene expression and control phenotypes of cell.All of those epigenetic factors are essential in the keeping homeostasis of human body and contribute to many biologic conditions.In addition,the application of epigenetic drugs has been come into clinical trials especially in the treatment of cancers,therefore the understanding the mechanism of epigenetics in the development of human diseases and the therapeutic potential of epigenetic regulators in the treatment of human disease will bring us into the epigenetics era in biomedical research.