How epigenetics impacts on human diseases

Epigenetics is a rapidly growing field of biology that studies the changes in gene expression that are not due toalterations in the DNA sequence but rather the chemical modifications of DNA and its associated proteins.Epigenetic mechanisms can profoundly influence gene expression, cell differentiation, tissue development, anddisease susceptibility. Understanding epigenetic changes is essential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying theincreasingly recognized role of environmental and lifestyle factors in health and disease and the intergenerationaltransmission of phenotypes. Recent studies suggest epigenetics may be critical in various diseases, fromcardiovascular disease and cancer to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Epigenetic modificationsare potentially reversible and could provide new therapeutic avenues for treating these diseases usingepigenetic modulators. Moreover, epigenetics provide insight into disease pathogenesis and biomarkers fordisease diagnosis and risk stratification. Nevertheless, epigenetic interventions have the potential for unintendedconsequences and may potentially lead to increased risks of unexpected outcomes, such as adverse drug reactions,developmental abnormalities, and cancer. Therefore, rigorous studies are essential to minimize the risksassociated with epigenetic therapies and to develop safe and effective interventions for improving human health.This article provides a synthetic and historical view of the origin of epigenetics and some of the most relevantachievements.