Stylianides Christina, Hadjigavriel Gavriel, Theotokis Paschalis, Vakirlis Efstratios, Meditskou Soultana, Manthou Maria Eleni, Dermitzakis Iasonas
Department of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54643 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Epigenomes. 2025 Aug 14;9(3):30. doi: 10.3390/epigenomes9030030.
Neurocutaneous syndromes, known as phakomatoses, encompass a diverse group of congenital conditions affecting the nervous system and skin, with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) among the most clinically significant. Both disorders are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. NF1 presents with café-au-lait macules; cutaneous, subcutaneous, and plexiform neurofibromas; skeletal abnormalities; learning disabilities; and optic pathway gliomas, while NF2 is characterised by bilateral vestibular schwannomas, multiple meningiomas, ependymomas, and peripheral nerve schwannomas. Although germline mutations in the and tumour suppressor genes are well established, they do not fully explain the broad clinical variability observed, even among individuals carrying identical mutations. As increasingly recognised in other genetic diseases, epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulation, play a critical role in modulating gene expression and influencing disease severity. Despite important findings, the research remains fragmented, and a unified model is lacking. This review organises the current knowledge, emphasising how epigenetic alterations impact disease behaviour and outlining their potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could lead to improved personalised management and the development of targeted epigenetic therapies for individuals with NF1 and NF2.
神经皮肤综合征,又称斑痣性错构瘤病,包括一系列影响神经系统和皮肤的先天性疾病,其中1型神经纤维瘤病(NF1)和2型神经纤维瘤病(NF2)在临床上最为重要。这两种疾病均以常染色体显性方式遗传。NF1表现为牛奶咖啡斑;皮肤、皮下和丛状神经纤维瘤;骨骼异常;学习障碍;以及视路胶质瘤,而NF2的特征是双侧前庭神经鞘瘤、多发性脑膜瘤、室管膜瘤和周围神经鞘瘤。尽管已充分证实 和 肿瘤抑制基因中的种系突变,但它们并不能完全解释所观察到的广泛临床变异性,即使在携带相同突变的个体中也是如此。正如在其他遗传疾病中越来越被认识到的那样,表观遗传机制,包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑和非编码RNA(ncRNA)调控,在调节基因表达和影响疾病严重程度方面起着关键作用。尽管有重要发现,但研究仍然零散,缺乏统一模型。本综述整理了当前的知识,强调表观遗传改变如何影响疾病行为,并概述了它们作为预后生物标志物和治疗靶点的潜力。对这些机制的更深入理解可能会改善个性化管理,并为NF1和NF2患者开发靶向表观遗传疗法。