Environmental Epigenetics in Metal Exposure

Overview

Journal Epigenetics

Specialty Genetics

Date 2011 May 26

PMID 21610324

Citations 84

Authors

Ricardo Martinez-Zamudio

Hyo Chol Ha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Although it is widely accepted that chronic exposure to arsenite, nickel, chromium and cadmium increases cancer incidence in individuals, the molecular mechanisms underlying their ability to transform cells remain largely unknown. Carcinogenic metals are typically weak mutagens, suggesting that genetic-based mechanisms may not be primarily responsible for metal-induced carcinogenesis. Growing evidence shows that environmental metal exposure involves changes in epigenetic marks, which may lead to a possible link between heritable changes in gene expression and disease susceptibility and development. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of metal exposure affecting epigenetic marks and discuss establishment of heritable gene expression in metal-induced carcinogenesis.

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