Epigenetics and Disease

A special issue of Diseases (ISSN 2079-9721).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 23899

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College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1005 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of tissues involves the direction of specific programs for gene expression among distinct cell types. Those programs are often established in a heritable state by virtue of epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding pathways of cellular memory. Thus, the broad synchronization in patterns of gene expression ultimately dictates cellular consequences. Aberrations in these epigenetic mechanisms are known to be associated with a range of diseases. This correlation between epigenetic aberrations and disease is the focus of this Special Issue of Diseases. For this issue, we invite papers related to the molecular, cellular, and clinical significance of epigenetic aberrations as well as treatments based on the modulation of epigenetic mechanisms in the clinical management of disease.

Assoc. Prof. Mark A. Brown
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • disease
  • chromatin modifications
  • transcriptional regulation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 160 KiB  
Editorial
Epigenetic Factors of Disease
by Ilham Alshiraihi and Mark A. Brown
Diseases 2019, 7(2), 42; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/diseases7020042 - 14 Jun 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
The development of tissues involves the direction of specific programs for gene expression among distinct cell types. These programs are often established in a heritable state by virtue of epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding pathways of cellular memory. Thus, the broad synchronization in patterns [...] Read more.
The development of tissues involves the direction of specific programs for gene expression among distinct cell types. These programs are often established in a heritable state by virtue of epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding pathways of cellular memory. Thus, the broad synchronization in patterns of gene expression ultimately dictates cellular consequences. Aberrations in these epigenetic mechanisms are known to be associated with a range of diseases. Herein, we highlight epigenetic factors that, when aberrantly expressed, lead to a broad range of diseases. Further, we call upon the community of biomedical researchers to share their findings related to the epigenetic factors of disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics and Disease)

Research

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3 pages, 203 KiB  
Communication
Epigenetics—Shedding Light on the Path Ahead for Material Sciences
by Anne Krüger-Genge, Olivia Mauger, Joachim Storsberg and Christian Schmidt
Diseases 2019, 7(2), 43; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/diseases7020043 - 14 Jun 2019
Viewed by 2438
Abstract
The harmonious regulation of bodily function is a necessity for healthy individuals. Looking from the viewpoint of material sciences, one can only marvel at the cellular factories, their renewal, and the overall control of messaging and control of responses. As aging progresses and/or [...] Read more.
The harmonious regulation of bodily function is a necessity for healthy individuals. Looking from the viewpoint of material sciences, one can only marvel at the cellular factories, their renewal, and the overall control of messaging and control of responses. As aging progresses and/or pathologies arise, clinicians may be forced to look for replacement of organs/tissues with medical devices. Since all devices are tailored, a detailed understanding of developmental processes, including aberrant processes leading to pathologies, is crucial to provide clinicians with a suitable device. Although research in the field of epigenetics has produced effective therapeutics and diagnostic markers, our currently fragmented understanding of epigenetic processes as they relate to material development is inherently limited, with logical implications for the success of medical procedures. Here, we illustrate how material sciences for clinical applications, critically depend on all aspects of biomedical sciences, including the field of epigenetics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics and Disease)

Review

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24 pages, 2259 KiB  
Review
Glycoprotein G-protein Coupled Receptors in Disease: Luteinizing Hormone Receptors and Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptors
by Duaa Althumairy, Xiaoping Zhang, Nicholas Baez, George Barisas, Deborah A. Roess, George R. Bousfield and Debbie C. Crans
Diseases 2020, 8(3), 35; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/diseases8030035 - 15 Sep 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4872
Abstract
Signal transduction by luteinizing hormone receptors (LHRs) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors (FSHRs) is essential for the successful reproduction of human beings. Both receptors and the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor are members of a subset of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) described as the glycoprotein hormone [...] Read more.
Signal transduction by luteinizing hormone receptors (LHRs) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors (FSHRs) is essential for the successful reproduction of human beings. Both receptors and the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor are members of a subset of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) described as the glycoprotein hormone receptors. Their ligands, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and a structurally related hormone produced in pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), are large protein hormones that are extensively glycosylated. Although the primary physiologic functions of these receptors are in ovarian function and maintenance of pregnancy in human females and spermatogenesis in males, there are reports of LHRs or FSHRs involvement in disease processes both in the reproductive system and elsewhere. In this review, we evaluate the aggregation state of the structure of actively signaling LHRs or FSHRs, their functions in reproduction as well as summarizing disease processes related to receptor mutations affecting receptor function or expression in reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. We will also present novel strategies for either increasing or reducing the activity of LHRs signaling. Such approaches to modify signaling by glycoprotein receptors may prove advantageous in treating diseases relating to LHRs or FSHRs function in addition to furthering the identification of new strategies for modulating GPCR signaling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics and Disease)
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13 pages, 294 KiB  
Review
Histone Deacetylases and Their Inhibitors in Cancer Epigenetics
by Kelly N. Hassell
Diseases 2019, 7(4), 57; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/diseases7040057 - 01 Nov 2019
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 4660
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have greatly impacted the war on cancer. Their role in epigenetics has significantly altered the development of anticancer drugs used to treat the most rare, persistent forms of cancer. During transcription, HDAC and HDACi are [...] Read more.
Histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have greatly impacted the war on cancer. Their role in epigenetics has significantly altered the development of anticancer drugs used to treat the most rare, persistent forms of cancer. During transcription, HDAC and HDACi are used to regulate the genetic mutations found in cancerous cells by removing and/or preventing the removal of the acetyl group on specific histones. This activity determines the relaxed or condensed conformation of the nucleosome, changing the accessibility zones for transcription factors. These modifications lead to other biological processes for the cell, including cell cycle progression, proliferation, and differentiation. Each HDAC and HDACi class or group has a distinctive mechanism of action that can be utilized to halt the progression of cancerous cell growth. While the use of HDAC- and HDACi-derived compounds are relatively new in treatment of cancers, they have a proven efficacy when the appropriately utilized. This following manuscript highlights the mechanisms of action utilized by HDAC and HDACi in various cancer, their role in epigenetics, current drug manufacturers, and the impact predicative modeling systems have on cancer therapeutic drug discovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics and Disease)
27 pages, 2204 KiB  
Review
Epigenetics and Mechanobiology in Heart Development and Congenital Heart Disease
by Dillon K. Jarrell, Mallory L. Lennon and Jeffrey G. Jacot
Diseases 2019, 7(3), 52; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/diseases7030052 - 01 Sep 2019
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8581
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect worldwide and the number one killer of live-born infants in the United States. Heart development occurs early in embryogenesis and involves complex interactions between multiple cell populations, limiting the understanding and consequent treatment [...] Read more.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect worldwide and the number one killer of live-born infants in the United States. Heart development occurs early in embryogenesis and involves complex interactions between multiple cell populations, limiting the understanding and consequent treatment of CHD. Furthermore, genome sequencing has largely failed to predict or yield therapeutics for CHD. In addition to the underlying genome, epigenetics and mechanobiology both drive heart development. A growing body of evidence implicates the aberrant regulation of these two extra-genomic systems in the pathogenesis of CHD. In this review, we describe the stages of human heart development and the heart defects known to manifest at each stage. Next, we discuss the distinct and overlapping roles of epigenetics and mechanobiology in normal development and in the pathogenesis of CHD. Finally, we highlight recent advances in the identification of novel epigenetic biomarkers and environmental risk factors that may be useful for improved diagnosis and further elucidation of CHD etiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics and Disease)
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