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Epigenomes: the missing heritability in human cardiovascular disease?

Emma Monte1, Thomas M Vondriska

  • 1Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medicine and Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Proteomics. Clinical Applications
|June 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Epigenomic variations, not just DNA mutations, may explain genetic links to heart failure susceptibility. These epigenetic changes create distinct cellular environments that respond differently to environmental triggers, impacting cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Epigenetics
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant global health burden.
  • Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified heritability but struggle to pinpoint causative mutations for common heart diseases like heart failure.
  • Genetic variations in noncoding DNA regions are increasingly linked to disease susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of epigenomic variation in cardiovascular disease susceptibility.
  • To propose a mechanism where epigenomic changes influence cellular responses to environmental stress, contributing to heart failure.
  • To explain the heritability of heart disease not fully captured by traditional genetic studies.

Main Methods:

  • The study proposes a hypothesis based on existing evidence, focusing on epigenomic variation.
  • It emphasizes the role of chromatin environments and their interaction with environmental factors.
  • The approach involves analyzing how genetic encoding influences chromatin structure and subsequent disease response.

Main Results:

  • Epigenomic variation can lead to distinct chromatin environments.
  • These distinct environments exhibit differential responses to environmental stresses.
  • This epigenomic influence helps explain altered susceptibility to heart failure observed in human populations.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenomic variation is a critical factor in cardiovascular disease susceptibility.
  • Distinct chromatin environments, influenced by epigenetics, contribute to heart failure pathogenesis.
  • Understanding epigenomic contributions is essential for a comprehensive view of heart disease genetics and environmental interactions.

Keywords:
ChromatinGenomicsHeart failureHuman studiesSystems biology

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