Journal
CURRENT OPINION IN GASTROENTEROLOGY
Volume 28, Issue 6, Pages 577-584Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e328357336b
Keywords
DNA methylation; environmental factors; epigenetics; histone modification; inflammatory bowel diseases
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Purpose of review To briefly summarize some of the principles of epigenetics and assess their potential relevance for the disease pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). To review the results of recent IBD-related epigenetic studies, discuss main challenges as well as highlight the opportunities for future research in this field. Recent findings Evidence is accumulating for a major role of epigenetic mechanisms in the disease pathogenesis of several immune-mediated diseases. Recent findings indicate that epigenetics may mediate some of the effects of environment, genetic predisposition and intestinal microbiota on IBD pathogenesis. Summary Epigenetics is a rapidly expanding and hugely promising area of research. At best, it may provide a unifying molecular mechanism to explain complex immune-mediated diseases such as IBD. Future research studies must be carefully designed, performed and analysed taking into account the basic principles of epigenetics in order to ensure the true potential of this field is realized in the understanding of IBD.
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