Epigenetic factors in aging and longevity

Abstract

Epigenetics refers to phenotypic changes caused by mechanisms that are unrelated to changes in the underlying DNA sequence, most notably chromatin remodeling driven by histone modifications, and DNA methylation. Such variation is transmitted by cell division, but generally not passed on through the germ line. An increasing body of evidence supports a role for epigenetic changes in the etiology of aging and its associated disease sequelae. Here, we review the role of epigenetics in aging and longevity with a focus on DNA methylation. Increased understanding of those aging-related processes that are driven by epigenetic mechanisms will allow for the development of novel epigenetic-based diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.

Epigenetic Alterations in Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases: Review

“…3 Son zamanlarda yapılan çalışma-larda yaşlanma ve yaşlanmayla ilişkili hastalık-larda epigenetiğin önemli role sahip olduğu vurgulanmıştır. 9 Genetik ve epigenetik değişik-likler nörolojik hastalıklar, kalp-damar hastalık-ları, otoimmün hastalıklar, kanser ve yaşlanma ile yakından ilişkilidir. 8 Yaşlanma sırasında gen ifadesini önemli öl-çüde etkileyen epigenetik mekanizmalar arasında, DNA metilasyonu, histon modifikasyonları ve kodlamayan RNA'lar yer almaktadır.…”

“…20,21 Memeli genlerinin promotor bölgelerinin yaklaşık %40'ı CpG adacıkları içer-mektedir. 9 Promotor bölgelerinde yer alan CpG dinükleotidleri genellikle gelişim sırasında ve normal doku tiplerinde metillenmemiştir. 22,23 Promotor bölgelerinin metillenmesi transkripsiyonu baskıla-yarak gen ifadesini düzenlemektedir.…”

Epigenetics: Understanding How our Choices Lead to our Diseases

“…While the 'modern evolutionary synthesis' based in 'hard inheritance' has provided the foundation for biological fields today, recently, Lamarck's simple observation of 'soft inheritance' has been a motivation for a field of genetic study called epigenetics. The word epigenetics directly translates to "above genetics" and today it encompasses the study of any change in phenotype or gene expression caused by molecular mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence [9][10][11][12].…”

“…Epigenetic changes occur most often during gestation, neonatal development, puberty, and old age [9]. However, animal studies and human epidemiologic data suggest that long-term epigenetic changes that manifest in disease phenotypes are especially critical during the prenatal and neonatal stages as well as during times of 'dietary transition' in adulthood [32][33][34][35].…”

Interplay between histone acetylation/deacetylation and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in the development of ischemic tolerance in vitro

“…HDAC inhibitors have initially been proposed as effective therapeutic agents for cancer, due to their remarkable induction of growth arrest, differentiation and, in some cases, apoptosis. More recently, despite their efficacy as proapoptotic agents, HDAC inhibitors have been widely recognized as neuroprotective agents, in that they prevent and delay neuronal deterioration and death in vitro and in vivo, and hence have been proposed for the treatment of a number of neurological (Hahnen et al, 2008;Chuang et al, 2009;D'Mello, 2009), psychiatric (Deutsch et al, 2008;Sananbenesi and Fischer, 2009); age-related (Calvanese et al, 2009;Gravina and Vijg, 2010) and neurodevelopmental (Abel and Zukin, 2008;Kazantsev and Thompson, 2013) …”