Arsenic-Associated Changes to the Epigenome: What Are the Functional Consequences?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a global health concern with poorly understood toxic mechanisms.
• Epigenetic modifications are increasingly implicated in diseases caused by environmental toxicants.
• iAs exposure is linked to epigenetic alterations like DNA methylation and histone modifications.

Approach:

• This review summarizes recent studies on iAs-induced epigenetic changes.
• Identifies specific genomic regions and genes targeted by arsenical-induced epigenetic alterations.
• Highlights the role of iAs biotransformation, individual sex, and genetic background.

Key Points:

• iAs exposure induces epigenetic alterations, including changes in DNA methylation and miRNA abundance.
• Specific genes and genomic regions are identified as targets of iAs-induced epigenetic modifications.
• Even low to moderate iAs exposure is associated with epigenetic effects.

Conclusions:

• Arsenicals are established epigenome modifiers, but their biological significance is often unknown.
• Understanding these epigenetic changes is crucial for iAs-associated disease development.
• Functional validation of epigenetic alterations is essential for future research.