Korkmaz Ahmet, Reiter Russel J
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
J Pineal Res. 2008 Jan;44(1):41-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2007.00509.x.
Epigenetic, modifications of DNA and histones, i.e. heritable alterations in gene expression that do not involve changes in DNA sequences, are known to be involved in disease. Two important epigenetic changes that contribute to disease are abnormal methylation patterns of DNA and modifications of histones in chromatin. Epimutations, such as the hypermethylation and epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes, have revealed a new area for cancer treatment. Studies using DNA methyltransferase inhibitors such as procaine, hydralazine, and RG108 have had promising outcomes against cancer therapy. Melatonin, one of the most versatile molecules in nature, may hypothetically be involved in epigenetic regulation. In this review, the potential role of melatonin in inhibiting DNA methyltransferase and epigenetic regulation is discussed.
表观遗传学，即DNA和组蛋白的修饰，也就是在不涉及DNA序列改变的情况下基因表达的可遗传改变，已知与疾病有关。导致疾病的两个重要表观遗传变化是DNA的异常甲基化模式和染色质中组蛋白的修饰。表观突变，如肿瘤抑制基因的高甲基化和表观遗传沉默，为癌症治疗揭示了一个新领域。使用普鲁卡因、肼屈嗪和RG108等DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂的研究在癌症治疗方面取得了有前景的成果。褪黑素是自然界中最具多功能性的分子之一，理论上可能参与表观遗传调控。在这篇综述中，讨论了褪黑素在抑制DNA甲基转移酶和表观遗传调控中的潜在作用。
