Epigenetics and epigenetic mechanisms in disease with emphasis on autoimmune diseases.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-92303
ABSTRACT
Epigenetics deals with molecular heritable patterns relating to chromatin, which exists in two alterable and inter-convertible states. The two conformations of chromatin i.e., compact and relaxed are due to epigenetic regulation. The alterations in chromatin normalize gene expression patterns. Thus, the epigenetic marks on chromatin are the deciding factors for either gene silencing or activation. The epigenetics introduced a new term viz., epiallele which deviates from the classical Mendelian allele. The remodeling of chromatin during embryonic phase, post-translational aberrations of chromatin proteins causing cellular dysfunction and possible epigenetic therapies are discussed in the present article. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in triggering / progression of several autoimmune diseases is being emphasized off late. The study of such complex epigenetic processes becomes very important in understanding the etiopathology of the disease as well as in designing target therapies.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Autoimmune Diseases
/
Humans
/
Chromatin
/
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
/
Gene Expression Profiling
/
Epigenesis, Genetic
Language:
English
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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