RB, epigenetic changes and chromosomal alterations in human primary fibroblasts in culture

The regulation of chromatin structure is a dynamic and complex process modulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic changes as malfunctioning of histone modifications and DNA methylation could affect several different cellular processes like regulation of gene transcription and could compromise the correct chromosome condensation and segregation. Is important to note that these alterations have been correlated with cancer initiation/progression. In particular hypomethylation of pericentromeric regions, usually methylated, has been associated to chromosomal instability, as well as hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands of tumor suppressor genes (p16, CHFR, BRCA1) is considered a cause of…