Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure
Published on: August 25, 2017
[Lung cancer and its epigenetics association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]
1Department of Environmental Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Development of lung cancer involves both genetic and environment factors. In addition to genetic alterations, epigenetic mechanism is closely involved in pathogenesis of lung cancer. Characterized by an abnormal persistent inflammatory response to noxious environmental stimulation, COPD has shown to increase the susceptibility for lung tumorigenesis in previous research. Current research on epigenetics of lung cancer and COPD has focused on aberrant DNA methylation, histone acetylation and non-coding RNAs regulation. The aberrant DNA methylation associated with lung cancer and COPD has included overexpression of DNA methyltransferase, global DNA hypomethylation and DNA hypermethylation in promoter regions, while histone acetylation and histone methylation are the major changes for histone modification, in which histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases play the most important roles. RNA interference and microRNAs are both hot topics of research on non-coding RNAs regulation. Understanding of concurrent epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and COPD may facilitate identification of specific therapeutic targets and development of effective treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...