DNA甲基化对子宫内膜异位症(EMs)的作用及其调控机制

表观遗传通过DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑、以及microRNA等调控方式来实现对基因表达、DNA复制和基因组稳定性的控制。DNA甲基化是目前研究的最为广泛的表观遗传修饰方式之一,可调控真核生物的基因表达。DNA甲基化在哺乳动物发育、肿瘤发生发展及人类其他疾病中均发挥着至关重要的作用。DNA甲基化状态的改变已被视为人类肿瘤细胞的生物标志之一。EMs虽是一种良性妇科疾病,但伴有细胞增殖、侵袭性及远处种植转移等肿瘤的特点。最新研究发现,DNA甲基化可能与子宫内膜异位症(EMs)的发生存在密切的关系并认为EMs从根本上是一种表观遗传学疾病。由于表观遗传修饰都是可逆的过程,这就为EMs的治疗提供了一种新的途径。本文就DNA甲基化在EMs中的发生发展中的作用及其调控的分子机制,以及在诊断治疗中作用的最新研究进展做一综述。

The Roles and Regulatory Mechanism of DNA Dethylation in Endometriosis

Epigenetics regulate gene expression, DNA replication, and maintain the genome stability through DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, as well as miRNA regulation. DNA methylation is one of the most well-studied epigenetic modifications, involving in eukaryotic genes expression regulation. DNA methylation play crucial roles in Mammalian development, tumorigenesis and other human diseases. The changes of DNA methylation states have been identified as a common hall-mark of human cancer cells. Although EMs is a benign gynecological disorder, it always shows the characteristics of the tumor, including cell proliferation, invasion and distance metastases. Recent studies suggest that aberrant DNA methylation states may be associated with the occurrence of endometriosis (EMs) and consider that EMs is fundamentally an epigenetic disease. Since the epigenetic modifications are reversible process, the associations between DNA methylation states and EMs will provide a new therapy way for EMs. This review summarizes the recent research progress about the roles and molecular mechanism of DNA methylation in the onset and development of EMs, as well as the roles in diagnosis and treatment for EMs.