DNA甲基化与miRNA相互调节与动脉粥样硬化

动脉粥样硬化是一类严重危害人类健康的心血管疾病，其发病机制一直是研究的热点.随着近年表观遗传学研究的深入，特别是人类表观基因组计划(Human Epigenome Project, HEP)的实施，以及国际人类表观基因组协会(Human Epigenome Con-sortium, HEC)的成立，DNA甲基化和miRNA在动脉粥样硬化中的调控作用机制被逐渐认识.它们不仅能够作为独立因子在动脉粥样硬化的发生发展过程发挥作用，而且最新研究发现，它们可以相互形成交叉网络调控，但其具体过程尚未阐明. 本文拟就DNA甲基化、miRNA在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中相互作用的最新研究进行综述.

The Regulation Network of DNA Methylation and miRNA in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of larger and medium size arteries that endangers human health. The pathogenesis of this disease has been studied and significant progress was made with the advances of epigenetics, including the implement of Human Epigenome Project supervised by the international human epigenome Association. As the mechanism of DNA methylation and miRNA function have been better and better understood, the increasing evidence from atherosclerosis studies can be used as independent evaluation factors not only, but also help to understand the interaction and regulation network in the disease development. In this review, we focus on the latest reports upon the interplay of DNA methylation and miRNA regulation in atherosclerosis.