Epigenetics in inflammatory liver diseases: A clinical perspective (Review)

Inflammatory liver diseases are, nowadays, multifactorial and wide-spread, thus having an important socio-economic impact. Although the therapeutic algorithms are well-known in hepatitis, regardless of etiology, strategies to identify inflammatory hepatic lesions in early stages and to develop new epigenetic therapies should be prioritized. The main entities of inflammatory liver disease are: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, viral hepatitis and Wilson disease. The main epigenetic processes include: DNA methylation/demethylation, which imply changes in DNA tertiary structure; post-translational histone covalent changes (methylation/demethylation, acetylation/deacetylation, ubiquitination), that cause DNA-histone instability; synthesis of small, non-coding RNA molecules, called microRNAs, that modulate translational potential of transcripts (mRNAs) and post-translational modification of polypeptide chains. Consequently, the epigenetic interactions aforementioned, play an important modulatory role in disease progression and response to conventional therapies The present review focused on the main epigenetic changes in inflammatory liver conditions, considering a new perspective: Epigenetic therapy. This approach is more than welcomed, taking into consideration that conventional therapeutic strategies are almost exhausted.

Automated summary

Inflammatory liver diseases have a significant socio-economic impact and are multifactorial and wide-spread. Early identification of inflammatory hepatic lesions and the development of new epigenetic therapies are important strategies. The main types of inflammatory liver diseases are alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, viral hepatitis, and Wilson disease. Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation/demethylation, histone covalent changes, and microRNA synthesis play a modulatory role in disease progression and response to treatment. Epigenetic therapy offers a new perspective considering the limitations of conventional strategies.