摘要
表观遗传学（epigenetics）这一概念最早在1942年由Waddington提出，是指在DNA序列不发生变化但基因表达的水平和功能却发生了可遗传的改变，主要包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白共价修饰、微小RNA干扰等。这种控制机制的基因型未变而表型改变，并在细胞的分裂、增殖及之后的发育过程中都能稳定地传递下去，因而可引起相应的病理生理变化，从而与肿瘤、免疫、心血管、代谢综合征等多种疾病的发生发展有关。糖尿病是世界第三大慢性疾病，严重危害着人类健康，特别是糖尿病血管病变，即使血糖控制在理想状态下，其血管炎症仍能持续发生，提示存在“代谢记忆”，有研究指出可从表观遗传学水平阐明其发病机制。本文重点讨论DNA甲基化和组蛋白修饰，并就表观遗传学在糖尿病血管病变中的研究进展进行综述。
The concept of epigenetics was first proposed by Waddington in 1942, referring to phenotypic changes that are not related to the underlying DNA sequence, yet alterations in the level and function of gene expression can be heritable, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNA interference, etc. Phenotype changes while genotype remains unchanged, this controlled mechanism can be kept stable throughout cell division, proliferation, and subsequent process of development. This process thus may cause corresponding changes in the pathophysiology, which are correlated with the occurrence of cancer, immune disorder, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and so on. Diabetes mellitus is the third heaviest chronic diseases in the world, and does serious harm to human health, especially the diabetic vascular diseases. Even if the blood glucose level is controlled in an ideal state, vascular inflammation still persists, indicating the existence of metabolic memory. Studies have suggested that the pathogenesis can be elucidated at the level of epigenetics. This paper mainly focuses on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and is an overview of epigenetics research progress in diabetic vascular diseases.
出处
《中华内分泌代谢杂志》
CAS
CSCD
北大核心
2013年第2期180-184,共5页
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
基金
国家自然科学基金面上项目（31171129）
上海市科委科技发展基金基础研究重点课题（10JC1404800）
