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Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

Epigenetics, DNA methylation, and chromatin modifying drugs

Moshe Szyf1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada. mszyf@pharma.mcgill.ca

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|October 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Gene defects cause diseases like cancer and autism. Epigenetic drugs can reverse abnormal gene expression, offering a new path for targeted therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Aberrant gene expression is linked to numerous diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, asthma, type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders, and autism.
  • Gene function can be altered by DNA sequence changes or epigenetic modifications without altering the DNA sequence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of epigenetic modifications in disease development.
  • To discuss the potential of epigenetic drugs in reversing aberrant gene expression.
  • To emphasize the need for understanding epigenetic machinery for targeted therapy development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of emerging evidence on gene function defects and disease.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone deacetylation.
  • Discussion of clinical trial data for epigenetic drugs.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic drugs show promise in reversing disease-associated gene expression profiles.
  • Several epigenetic drugs targeting DNA methylation and histone deacetylation have undergone clinical trials.
  • Understanding the epigenetic machinery is crucial for developing effective epigenetic therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic alterations play a significant role in various diseases.
  • Targeted epigenetic therapies offer a potential treatment strategy for a range of conditions.
  • Further research into epigenetic mechanisms is essential for advancing therapeutic development.

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