Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Semin Cancer Biol. 2021 Nov;76:195-205. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.019. Epub 2021 Mar 30.
Arsenic is a ubiquitous metalloid whose high levels of toxicity pose major health concerns to millions of people worldwide by increasing susceptibility to various cancers and non-cancer illnesses. Since arsenic is not a mutagen, the mechanism by which it causes changes in gene expression and disease pathogenesis is not clear. One possible mechanism is through generation of reactive oxygen species. Another equally important mechanism still very much in its infancy is epigenetic dysregulation. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries underlying arsenic-induced epigenetic changes in cancer development. Importantly, we highlight the proposed mechanisms targeted by arsenic to drive oncogenic gene expression.
砷是一种普遍存在的类金属，其高毒性水平使全世界数百万人易患各种癌症和非癌症疾病，从而对健康造成重大威胁。由于砷不是诱变剂，因此其导致基因表达和疾病发病机制改变的机制尚不清楚。一种可能的机制是通过生成活性氧物质。另一种同样重要且仍处于起步阶段的机制是表观遗传失调。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了砷诱导癌症发生过程中表观遗传变化的最新发现。重要的是，我们强调了砷驱动致癌基因表达所针对的提出的机制。
