Laboratory of Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering, Monzino Cardiology Center, IRCCS, Via Parea, 4, 20138, Milan, Italy.
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2013 Jun;9(3):241-53. doi: 10.1007/s12015-012-9398-z.
Epigenetics, through control of gene expression circuitries, plays important roles in various physiological processes such as stem cell differentiation and self renewal. This occurs during embryonic development, in different tissues, and in response to environmental stimuli. The language of epigenetic program is based on specific covalent modifications of DNA and chromatin. Thus, in addition to the individual identity, encoded by sequence of the four bases of the DNA, there is a cell type identity characterized by its positioning in the epigenetic "landscape". Aberrant changes in epigenetic marks induced by environmental cues may contribute to the development of abnormal phenotypes associated with different human diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and inflammation. Most of the epigenetic studies have focused on embryonic development and cancer biology, while little has been done to explore the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. This review highlights our current knowledge of epigenetic gene regulation and the evidence that chromatin remodeling and histone modifications play key roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease through (re)programming of cardiovascular (stem) cells commitment, identity and function.
表观遗传学通过控制基因表达调控网络，在胚胎发育、不同组织以及对环境刺激的反应等各种生理过程中发挥重要作用。表观遗传调控的语言基于 DNA 和染色质的特定共价修饰。因此，除了由 DNA 的四个碱基序列编码的个体身份之外，还有一种由其在表观遗传“景观”中的定位所特征的细胞类型身份。环境线索引起的表观遗传标记的异常变化可能导致与不同人类疾病（如癌症、神经紊乱和炎症）相关的异常表型的发展。大多数表观遗传学研究都集中在胚胎发育和癌症生物学上，而对于探索表观遗传机制在心血管疾病发病机制中的作用却知之甚少。这篇综述强调了我们目前对表观基因调控的认识，以及染色质重塑和组蛋白修饰通过（重新）编程心血管（干）细胞的分化、特性和功能，在心血管疾病发病机制中发挥关键作用的证据。
