Therapeutic Potential of Natural Compounds Acting through Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Diseases: Current
Paola Bontempo1, Lucia Capasso1, Luigi De Masi2
1Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Insights
Epigenetic modifications play a key role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Understanding nutriepigenetic effects and plant-derived compounds offers new avenues for CVD prevention and therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Epigenetics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global health concern, influenced by complex genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors.
- Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, are critical in modulating cardiovascular homeostasis and disease progression.
- Environmental factors can trigger epigenetic changes, offering potential targets for reversible pharmacological interventions in CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the general mechanisms of epigenetics and its regulatory roles in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
- To explore the potential of epigenetic modifications as a therapeutic strategy for CVD.
- To examine the role of epigenetic natural compounds (ENCs) in CVD prevention and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on epigenetic mechanisms in cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of studies investigating environmental influences on epigenetic modifications related to CVD.
- Examination of research on plant-derived bioactive compounds and their impact on epigenetic regulators and inflammatory pathways.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic changes mediate the impact of environmental stimuli, such as diet, on cardiovascular health.
- Nutrient deficiencies and high-fat diets can alter epigenetic enzymes, affecting metabolism, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
- Plant-derived compounds show potential in modulating epigenetic regulators and inflammatory responses, conferring cardioprotective effects.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetics offers a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases due to the reversibility of epigenetic modifications.
- Understanding nutriepigenetic interactions is crucial for developing novel strategies for CVD prevention and management.
- Epigenetic natural compounds (ENCs) represent a potential avenue for intervention in combating cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. These diseases have a multifaceted nature being influenced by a multitude of biochemical, genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Epigenetic modifications have a crucial role in the onset and progression of CVD. Epigenetics, which regulates gene activity without altering the DNA's primary structure, can modulate cardiovascular homeostasis through DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation. The effects of environmental stimuli on CVD are mediated by epigenetic changes, which can be reversible and, hence, are susceptible to pharmacological interventions. This represents an opportunity to prevent diseases by targeting harmful epigenetic modifications. Factors such as high-fat diets or nutrient deficiencies can influence epigenetic enzymes, affecting fetal growth, metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that plant-derived bioactive compounds can modulate epigenetic regulators and inflammatory responses, contributing to the cardioprotective effects of diets. Understanding these nutriepigenetic effects and their reversibility is crucial for developing effective interventions to combat CVD. This review delves into the general mechanisms of epigenetics, its regulatory roles in CVD, and the potential of epigenetics as a CVD therapeutic strategy. It also examines the role of epigenetic natural compounds (ENCs) in CVD and their potential as intervention tools for prevention and therapy.
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