表观遗传学在癌症中的作用
Epigenetic contribution to cancer
DOI 原文链接
用sci-hub下载
如无法下载，请从 Sci-Hub 选择可用站点尝试。
发表日期:2024
作者:
Songhua Quan, Hao Huang
DOI:
10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.05.003
摘要
表观遗传学通过揭示基因活性变化（不改变DNA本身）如何引发和推进癌症，极大地改变了我们对癌症的认识。这些变化包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白构象和非编码RNA活性的调节。例如，DNA甲基化可以使通常具有抗癌作用的基因失活，导致更广泛的基因组不稳定。组蛋白修饰可以改变DNA缠绕的紧密程度，影响基因的激活或沉默；而非编码RNA则可能干扰指导蛋白质合成的信息，影响癌症相关过程。与永久和不可逆的遗传突变不同，表观遗传变化为治疗干预提供了可逆的靶点，允许对基因表达模式进行潜在的可逆调节。在癌症复杂的背景下，这种灵活性尤为重要，因为静态的遗传解决方案可能不足以应对。同时，表观遗传学弥合了遗传易感性与环境因素对癌症影响之间的差距，为理解生活习惯与外源暴露如何影响癌症风险和发展提供了全面框架。将表观遗传学融入癌症研究，不仅增强了我们对疾病的理解，还开辟了以往在传统遗传学研究中未曾探索的创新干预途径。先进的测序技术和精准的表观遗传修饰正为早期癌症检测和个性化治疗提供新机遇，突显了表观遗传学在现代癌症治疗中的关键作用。
Abstract
Epigenetics has transformed our understanding of cancer by revealing how changes in gene activity, which do not alter the DNA itself, can initiate and progress the disease. These changes include adjustments in DNA methylation, histone configuration, and non-coding RNA activity. For instance, DNA methylation can inactivate genes that typically protect against cancer, leading to broader genomic instability. Histone modifications can alter how tightly DNA is wound, influencing which genes are active or silenced; while non-coding RNAs can interfere with the messages that direct protein production, impacting cancer-related processes. Unlike genetic mutations, which are permanent and irreversible, epigenetic changes provide a malleable target for therapeutic intervention, allowing potentially reversible adjustments to gene expression patterns. This flexibility is essential in the complex landscape of cancer where static genetic solutions may be insufficient. Additionally, epigenetics bridges the gap between genetic predispositions and environmental influences on cancer, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding how lifestyle factors and external exposures impact cancer risk and progression. The integration of epigenetics into cancer research not only enhances our understanding of the disease but also opens innovative avenues for intervention that were previously unexplored in traditional genetic-focused studies. Technologies like advanced sequencing and precise epigenetic modification are paving the way for early cancer detection and more personalized treatment approaches, highlighting the critical role of epigenetics in modern cancer care.