Search results for "Epigenetics"
showing 10 items of 517 documents
Role of “mate tea” extracts modulating DNA methylation: in vitro studies for future significances for human health
2015
It is known that a healthy and balanced diet is essential for maintaining a state of good health of the individual, and that the onset of many diseases is related to inadequate nutrition. Many small molecules contained in foods (Food Small Molecules, SFMs) have the ability to influence the functioning of many cellular metabolic pathways. The term nutrigenomics, in fact, refers to an emerging branch of genetics and biochemistry which has the aim of identifying how the nutrients can determine the innate risk of developing diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and some cancers). In addition, with the help of epigenetics, it is possible to further understand how the SFMs act on DN…
A Glimpse into Chromatin Organization and Nuclear Lamina Contribution in Neuronal Differentiation
2023
During embryonic development stem cells undergo the differentiation process so that they can specialise for different functions within the organism. Complex programs of gene transcription are crucial for this process to happen. Epigenetic modifications and the architecture of chromatin in the nucleus, by the formation of specific regions of active as well as inactive chromatin, allow the coordinated regulation of the genes for each cell fate. In this mini review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the regulation of three-dimensional chromatin structure during neuronal differentiation. We also focus on the role played in neurogenesis by the nuclear lamina that ensures the tethering o…
Chromatin epigenetics and nuclear lamina keep the nucleus in shape: Examples from natural and accelerated aging.
2022
As the repository of genetic information, the cell nucleus must protect DNA integrity from mechanical stresses. The nuclear lamina, which resides within the nuclear envelope (NE), is made up of lamins, intermediate filaments bound to DNA. The nuclear lamina provides the nucleus with the ability to deal with inward as well as outward mechanical stimuli. Chromatin, in turn, through its degrees of compaction, shares this role with the nuclear lamina, thus, ensuring the plasticity of the nucleus. Perturbation of chromatin condensation or the nuclear lamina has been linked to a plethora of biological conditions, that range from cancer and genetic diseases (laminopathies) to aging, both natural a…
Phenotypic Aspects of Longevity
2019
Centenarians are individuals who live over the average life span characteristic of their population. The growing number of old people worldwide makes it necessary to identify a good strategy to reach healthy ageing and avoid or delay age-related diseases. The longevity phenotype is the result of a positive combination between genetic, epigenetic, stochastic and lifestyle factors. So, the analysis of all the known parameters that can influence these single elements or their interaction can give new possible elements to delineate a sort of longevity signature. Starting from the easiest biomarkers as the haematochemical values and reaching the study of molecular and cellular components, as the…
Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment over sorafenib: epigenetics, microRNAs and microenvironment. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
2015
Introduction: Sorafenib is currently the only approved therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alternative first- and second-line treatments are a significant unmet medical need, and several biologic agents have been tested in recent years, with poor results. Therefore, angiogenic pathways and the cytokine cascade remain possible targets in HCC. Recent studies suggest a role of epigenetic processes, associated with the initiation and development of HCC. In this field, DNA methylation, micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and tumor microenvironment cells became a possible new target for HCC treatment. Areas covered: This review explains the possible role of DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibito…
Non-coding RNAs and other determinants of neuroinflammation and endothelial dysfunction: regulation of gene expression in the acute phase of ischemic…
2021
Ischemic stroke occurs under a variety of clinical conditions and has different pathogeneses, resulting in necrosis of brain parenchyma. Stroke pathogenesis is characterized by neuroinflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Some of the main processes triggered in the early stages of ischemic damage are the rapid activation of resident inflammatory cells (microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells), inflammatory cytokines, and translocation of intercellular nuclear factors. Inflammation in stroke includes all the processes mentioned above, and it consists of either protective or detrimental effects concerning the “polarization” of these processes. This polarization comes out from the intera…
Transcriptomic identification of miR-205 target genes potentially involved in metastasis and survival of cutaneous malignant melanoma
2020
AbstractCutaneous melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm and is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Several miRNAs are involved in melanoma tumor progression. One of them is miR-205, the loss of which contributes to the development of melanoma metastasis. We evaluated whole-genome mRNA expression profiling associated with different miR-205 expression levels in melanoma cells. Differential expression analysis identified 243 differentially expressed transcripts including inositol polyphosphate 5′-phosphatase-like protein-1 (INPPL1) and BTB/POZ Domain-Containing Protein 3 (BTBD3). INPPL1 and BTBD3 were downregulated when melanoma cells expressed miR-205, indicating that these genes…
Enhancement of lysine acetylation accelerates wound repair
2013
In physiopathological conditions, such as diabetes, wound healing is significantly compromised and chronic complications, including ulcers, may occur. In a mouse model of skin repair, we recently reported that wound treatment with Sirtuin activators and class I HDAC inhibitors induced keratinocyte proliferation and enhanced healing via a nitric oxide (NO) dependent mechanism. We observed an increase in total protein acetylation in the wound area, as determined by acetylation of α-tubulin and histone H3 Lysine 9. We reasoned that this process activated cell function as well as regulated gene expression to foster tissue repair. We report here that the direct activation of P300/CBP-associated …
Intrinsically disordered protein PID-2 modulates Z granules and is required for heritable piRNA-induced silencing in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo
2020
Abstract In Caenorhabditis elegans, the piRNA (21U RNA) pathway is required to establish proper gene regulation and an immortal germline. To achieve this, PRG‐1‐bound 21U RNAs trigger silencing mechanisms mediated by RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)‐synthetized 22G RNAs. This silencing can become PRG‐1‐independent and heritable over many generations, a state termed RNA‐induced epigenetic gene silencing (RNAe). How and when RNAe is established, and how it is maintained, is not known. We show that maternally provided 21U RNAs can be sufficient for triggering RNAe in embryos. Additionally, we identify PID‐2, a protein containing intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), as a factor required …
Epigenetic influence on Streptomyces coelicolor morphological and physiological differentiation
2017
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification regulating many aspects of biological processes; for instance, in bacteria adenine methylation is well known to be associated with DNA repair and coordination of replication, while the role of cytosine methylation has been elucidated only in a few examples. Streptomyces coelicolor is a mycelial soil microorganism, producer of several antibiotics, with a complex life cycle that includes three different cell types: unigenomic spores, a compartmentalized mycelium (MI) and a multinucleated mycelium (MII). The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of DNA cytosine methylation along the morphological and physiological differentiation…