Genomic Tools for Environmental Epigenetics and Implications for Public Health

Overview

Journal Curr Opin Toxicol

Date 2019 Nov 26

PMID 31763499

Citations 9

Authors

Bambarendage P U Perera

Laurie Svoboda

Dana C Dolinoy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Epigenetics refers to the study of mitotically heritable and potentially reversible changes in gene expression unrelated to the DNA sequence itself, influenced by epigenetic marks including chromatin modifications, non-coding RNA and alterations to DNA itself via methylation and hydroxymethylation. Epigenetics has taken center stage in the study of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration; however, its integration into the field of environmental health sciences and toxicology (e.g. Toxicoepigenetics) is in its infancy. This review highlights the need to evaluate surrogate and target tissues in the field of toxicoepigenetics as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) multi-phased Toxicant Exposure and Response by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription (TaRGET) consortia make headway, and the emergence of non-coding RNA biomarkers. The review also discusses lead (Pb) as a potential toxicoepigenetic exposure, where pre- and post-natal Pb exposure is associated with reprogramming of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA expression, representing potential biomarkers or predictors for Pb-induced health outcomes. Finally, new advances in epigenome editing, highlighting the potential of small ncRNA, will be explored for environmental health sciences research.

Citing Articles

Sex and tissue-specificity of piRNA regulation in adult mice following perinatal lead (Pb) exposure.

Perera B, Wang K, Wang D, Chen K, Dewald A, Sriram S Epigenetics. 2024; 19(1):2426952.

PMID: 39536059 PMC: 11562917. DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2426952.

piOxi database: a web resource of germline and somatic tissue piRNAs identified by chemical oxidation.

Wang K, Perera B, Morgan R, Sala-Hamrick K, Geron V, Svoboda L Database (Oxford). 2024; 2024.

PMID: 38204359 PMC: 10782149. DOI: 10.1093/database/baad096.

A precision environmental health approach to prevention of human disease.

Baccarelli A, Dolinoy D, Walker C Nat Commun. 2023; 14(1):2449.

PMID: 37117186 PMC: 10147599. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37626-2.

Metals Exposures and DNA Methylation: Current Evidence and Future Directions.

Elkin E, Higgins C, Aung M, Bakulski K Curr Environ Health Rep. 2022; 9(4):673-696.

PMID: 36282474 PMC: 10082670. DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00382-4.

Gene-environment interactions in Alzheimer disease: the emerging role of epigenetics.

Migliore L, Coppede F Nat Rev Neurol. 2022; 18(11):643-660.

PMID: 36180553 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00714-w.

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