About this Research Topic
Epigenetics is the scientific investigation of how lifestyle and environment can lead to alterations that impact the function of genes. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change DNA sequence but can influence how the body reads a DNA sequence. Several lines of evidence have revealed that epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone alterations, and non-coding RNA expression, significantly impact controlling gene expression during inflammation and immune responses.
Inflammation plays a significant role in the epigenetic modifications of DNA, which can lead to various diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. Thus, anti-inflammatory drugs show promise in preventing disease development rather than just treating the symptoms of diseases.
Pharmacological interventions aimed at controlling inflammation and immune responses have undergone significant developments in recent years, including biologic agents targeting specific cytokines and immune cells involved in inflammatory reactions and small molecule inhibitors of specific inflammatory signaling pathways.
Recent studies have highlighted the potential importance of the interplay between epigenetic modifications and pharmacological interventions in regulating inflammation and immune responses. For example, some research has shown that specific epigenetic modifications can predict the response of patients with autoimmune disorders to treatment with biologic agents or small molecule inhibitors.
Key questions are:
1) Which are the mechanisms responsible for the interplay between epigenetic modifications and inflammation?
2) Which are the actions linking epigenetics, inflammation and pharmacological modulation?
3) Is the study of these interactions a pathway to improve and “tailor” precision medicine?
4) Do markers of pharmacological activity exist?
5) Can the consumption of functional foods impact on epigenetic modifications?
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather new information regarding the mechanisms regulating epigenetics, inflammation and their pharmacological modulation. In addition, this Research Topic targets at improving the current therapeutic clinical protocols meanwhile reducing the off-target effects.
Inflammation plays a significant role in the epigenetic modifications of DNA, which can lead to various diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. Thus, anti-inflammatory drugs show promise in preventing disease development rather than just treating the symptoms of diseases.
Pharmacological interventions aimed at controlling inflammation and immune responses have undergone significant developments in recent years, including biologic agents targeting specific cytokines and immune cells involved in inflammatory reactions and small molecule inhibitors of specific inflammatory signaling pathways.
Recent studies have highlighted the potential importance of the interplay between epigenetic modifications and pharmacological interventions in regulating inflammation and immune responses. For example, some research has shown that specific epigenetic modifications can predict the response of patients with autoimmune disorders to treatment with biologic agents or small molecule inhibitors.
Key questions are:
1) Which are the mechanisms responsible for the interplay between epigenetic modifications and inflammation?
2) Which are the actions linking epigenetics, inflammation and pharmacological modulation?
3) Is the study of these interactions a pathway to improve and “tailor” precision medicine?
4) Do markers of pharmacological activity exist?
5) Can the consumption of functional foods impact on epigenetic modifications?
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather new information regarding the mechanisms regulating epigenetics, inflammation and their pharmacological modulation. In addition, this Research Topic targets at improving the current therapeutic clinical protocols meanwhile reducing the off-target effects.
Keywords: Epigenetics, genetic changes, DNA, inflammatory pathways, Pharmacological modulation, DNA methylation, Histone modifications, Non-coding RNAs, Inflammation, Immunomodulation, Immune response, Transcriptional regulation, Pharmaceutical interventions, Epigenetic drugs
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