表观遗传学

Epigenetic alterations in aging
Susana Gonzalo
Abstract:
Aging is a multifaceted process characterized by genetic and epigenetic changes in the genome. The genetic component of aging received initially all of the attention.
Telomere attrition and accumulation of mutations due to a progressive deficiency in
the repair of DNA damage with age remain leading causes of genomic instability.
However, epigenetic mechanisms have now emerged as key contributors to the
alterations of genome structure and function that accompany aging. The three
pillars of epigenetic regulation are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and
noncoding RNA species. Alterations of these epigenetic mechanisms affect the vast
majority of nuclear processes, including gene transcription and silencing, DNA
replication and repair, cell cycle progression, and telomere and centromere structure
and function. Here, we summarize the lines of evidence indicating that these
epigenetic defects might represent a major factor in the pathophysiology of aging
and aging-related diseases, especially cancer.