对癌症的表观遗传学贡献
Epigenetic contribution to cancer
影响因子:6.42000
发表日期:2024
作者:
Songhua Quan, Hao Huang
摘要
表观遗传学通过揭示了不会改变DNA本身的基因活性的变化如何启动和发展疾病，从而改变了我们对癌症的理解。这些变化包括调整DNA甲基化，组蛋白构型和非编码RNA活性。例如，DNA甲基化可以使通常预防癌症的基因失活，从而导致更广泛的基因组不稳定性。组蛋白的修饰会改变DNA的紧密性，影响哪些基因活性或沉默。尽管非编码RNA可以干扰直接蛋白质产生的信息，从而影响与癌症相关的过程。与永久性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延展的靶标，从而可以对基因表达模式进行潜在的可逆调整。在静态遗传溶液可能不足的癌症的复杂景观中，这种灵活性至关重要。此外，表观遗传学弥合了遗传易感性和对癌症的环境影响之间的差距，从而为了解生活方式因素和外部暴露如何影响癌症的风险和进展提供了全面的框架。将表观遗传学的整合到癌症研究中不仅增强了我们对疾病的理解，而且为干预措施开辟了创新的途径，这些途径以前在传统的以基因为中心的研究中未经探索。高级测序和精确表观遗传修饰等技术为早期癌症检测和更多个性化的治疗方法铺平了道路，突出了表观遗传学在现代癌症护理中的关键作用。
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.