Epigenotoxicity: a danger to the future life.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Epigenetics
• Toxicology
• Genomics

Background:

• Environmental factors can alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence through epigenetic mechanisms.
• Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, are implicated in numerous common diseases.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for disease diagnosis, treatment, and predicting intergenerational effects.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes current knowledge on the impact of environmental factors on epigenetic modifications.
• It examines three key epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
• The review discusses the link between environmental exposures and epigenetic alterations across seven disease categories, using in vitro and in vivo models.

Key Points:

• Eleven major environmental factors and their effects on epigenetic modifications are analyzed.
• The adverse effects of specific chemicals on the epigenome in relation to disease onset are summarized.
• Environmentally-induced epigenetic alterations are proposed as a significant factor in disease etiology.

Conclusions:

• Epigenetic dysregulation by environmental toxicants plays a role in the development of a wide range of diseases.
• While the connection is evident, the precise role of environmentally-induced epigenetic alterations in disease etiology requires further investigation.
• This review highlights the need for more well-designed research to elucidate these complex relationships.