Epigenetic mechanisms in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases
Por:
LandgraveGomez, J, MercadoGomez, O, GuevaraGuzman, R
Publicada:
27 feb 2015
Categoría:
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Resumen:
The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the function and homeostasis of the
central nervous system (CNS) and its regulation in diseases is one of
the most interesting processes of contemporary neuroscience. In the last
decade, a growing body of literature suggests that long-term changes in
gene transcription associated with CNS's regulation and neurological
disorders are mediated via modulation of chromatin structure.
``Epigenetics'', introduced for the first time by Waddington in the
early 1940s, has been traditionally referred to a variety of mechanisms
that allow heritable changes in gene expression even in the absence of
DNA mutation. However, new definitions acknowledge that many of these
mechanisms used to perpetuate epigenetic traits in dividing cells are
used by neurons to control a variety of functions dependent on gene
expression. Indeed, in the recent years these mechanisms have shown
their importance in the maintenance of a healthy CNS. Moreover,
environmental inputs that have shown effects in CNS diseases, such as
nutrition, that can modulate the concentration of a variety of
metabolites such as acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-coA), nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide (NAD(+)) and beta hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB), regulates some
of these epigenetic modifications, linking in a precise way environment
with gene expression. This manuscript will portray what is currently
understood about the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the function and
homeostasis of the CNS and their participation in a variety of
neurological disorders. We will discuss how the machinery that controls
these modifications plays an important role in processes involved in
neurological disorders such as neurogenesis and cell growth. Moreover,
we will discuss how environmental inputs modulate these modifications
producing metabolic and physiological alterations that could exert
beneficial effects on neurological diseases. Finally, we will highlight
possible future directions in the field of epigenetics and neurological
disorders.
Filiaciones:
LandgraveGomez, J:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Dept Fisiol, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
MercadoGomez, O:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Dept Fisiol, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
GuevaraGuzman, R:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Dept Fisiol, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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