Epigenetics and lifestyle

Differential methylation in blood pressure control genes is associated to essential hypertension in African Brazilian populations

While genetic studies have provided insights into essential hypertension (EH, defined by high blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg), investigation through epigenetics may address gaps in understanding its heritability. This study focused on African Brazilian populations in Vale do Ribeira River region, due to their high hypertension prevalence. We aimed to determine if DNA methylation is linked to hypertension susceptibility, through a genome-wide evaluation of 80 peripheral blood samples from normotensive (39) and hypertensive (41) individuals, with Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip platform. Data were analyzed using ChAMP package and cross-referenced with information from databases such as EWAS Atlas, GWAS catalog, GeneCards, literature, and tools such as VarElect and EWAS Toolkit. The comparison between hypertensive and normotensive revealed 190 differentially methylated CpG positions (DMPs) and 46 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), both with p-value ≤0.05. Among the DMPs, 27 were found to have a plausible role in blood pressure. Among the DMRs, those mapped to ABAT, BLCAP, CERS3, EIF4E, FMN1, GABBR1, HLA-DQB2, HOXA5, IL5RA, KCNH2, MIR487B, MIR539, MIR886, MKRN3, NUDT12, PON3, RNF39, RWDD3, and TSHBS1 were highlighted because of their lowest p-values, current literature, and/or VarElect prioritization. Our findings suggest that differences in methylation contribute to the high susceptibility to essential hypertension in these populations.

Psoriatic arthritis: A comprehensive review for the dermatologist part I: Epidemiology, comorbidities, pathogenesis, and diagnosis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory seronegative arthritis strongly associated with psoriasis. Recognition of the clinical features of PsA is critical, as delayed detection and untreated disease may result in irreparable joint damage, impaired physical function, and a significantly reduced quality of life. Dermatologists are poised for the early detection of PsA, as psoriasis predates its development in as many as 80% of patients. In an effort to further acquaint dermatologists with PsA, this review provides a detailed overview, emphasizing its epidemiology, comorbidities, etiopathogenesis, and diagnostic features.

Developmental epigenomic effects of maternal financial problems

Early-life adversity as neglect or low socioeconomic status is associated with negative physical/mental health outcomes and plays an important role in health trajectories through life. The early-life environment has been shown to be encoded as changes in epigenetic markers that are retained for many years.We investigated the effect of maternal major financial problems (MFP) and material deprivation (MD) on their children's epigenome in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Epigenetic aging, measured with epigenetic clocks, was weakly accelerated with increased MFP. In subsequent EWAS, MFP, and MD showed strong, independent programing effects on children's genomes. MFP in the period from birth to age seven was associated with genome-wide epigenetic modifications on children's genome visible at age 7 and partially remaining at age 15.These results support the hypothesis that physiological processes at least partially explain associations between early-life adversity and health problems later in life. Both maternal stressors (MFP/MD) had similar effects on biological pathways, providing preliminary evidence for the mechanisms underlying the effects of low socioeconomic status in early life and disease outcomes later in life. Understanding these associations is essential to explain disease susceptibility, overall life trajectories and the transition from health to disease.

Arbovirus Infections and Epigenetic Mechanisms; a Potential Therapeutic Target

Arboviruses are a group of arthropod-borne viral pathogens that pose a significant threat to the public health system. The clinical manifestations associated with these viruses range from self-limiting infections to life-threatening disorders. As a group of systemic viral infections, arboviruses can affect various parts of human organ systems, such as the nervous system. In the nervous system, epigenetic mechanisms are involved in various mechanisms including adult neurogenesis, neuronal-glial differentiation, the regulation of neural behaviour and neural plasticity, as well as other brain functions such as memory, and cognition. Hence, epigenetic deregulation is a key factor in the aetiology of different neurological disorders that highlights the importance of studying the underlying mechanisms and risk factors to introduce effective therapeutic approaches. There is mounting evidence that arboviruses that affect the nervous system take advantage of various mechanisms to modulate epigenetic processes to regulate their life cycles. This phenomenon may affect the nervous system leading to neurotropic arboviral infection-associated neurological disorders. Hence, it is important to understand reciprocal interplays between neurotropic arboviral pathogens and epigenetic processes to better control these disorders. The present review provides an overview of different interactions of arboviruses with epigenetic mechanisms during neurotropic arboviral infections. It uniquely focuses on the interplay between epigenetic modifications and arboviral neurotropism, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies that have not been comprehensively addressed before. Targeting virus-induced epigenetic alterations, such as miRNA regulation, could lead to novel antiviral therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation and disease severity.

Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are increasing globally and represent a significant cause of age-related death in the population. Recent studies emphasize the strong association between environmental stressors, particularly dietary factors, and brain health and neurodegeneration unsatisfactory outcomes. Despite ongoing efforts, the efficiency of current treatments for NDDs remains wanting. Considering this, nootropic foods with neuroprotective effects are of high interest as part of a possible long-term therapeutic strategy to improve brain health and alleviate NDDs. However, since it is a new and emerging area in food and neuroscience, there is limited information on mechanisms and challenges to consider for this to be a successful intervention. Here, we seek to address these gaps by presenting a comprehensive review of possible pathways or mechanisms including mutual interactions governing nootropic food metabolism, linkages of the pathways with NDDs, intake, and neuroprotective properties of nootropic foods. We also discuss in-depth intervention with nootropic compounds and dietary patterns in NDDs, providing a detailed exploration of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, we analyze the demand, challenges, and future directions for successful development of nootropic foods targeting NDDs.

Omics in Keratoconus: From Molecular to Clinical Practice

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive ocular disorder marked by structural and functional alterations of the cornea, leading to significant visual impairment. Recent studies indicate that these corneal changes are linked to molecular and cellular mechanisms that disrupt and degrade the extracellular matrix. This degradation is influenced by proteinases that contribute to a loss of homeostasis and an imbalance in the antioxidant/oxidative state within the cornea, fostering oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Although these biological processes have been identified primarily through molecular biology research, omics technologies have significantly advanced our understanding of the physiological and pathological phenomena associated with KC. Omics studies encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics, have emerged as critical tools in elucidating the complex biological landscape of various diseases, including ocular conditions. The integrative application of these studies has demonstrated their potential in personalizing medicine across diverse fields such as oncology, neurology, and ophthalmology. This review aims to describe findings from omics research applied to keratoconus, highlighting the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic, and metabolomic aspects derived from ocular and other biological samples. Notably, the molecular insights gained from these studies hold promise for identifying biomarkers of keratoconus, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies. The exploration of these biomarkers may facilitate improved management and treatment options for patients, contributing to personalized care in keratoconus management.

Dietary Carbohydrate Quality Is Associated with Epigenetic Age Acceleration: a Cross-Sectional Study of the CARDIA Cohort

BACKGROUND

Dietary intake is one lifestyle factor that is expected to impact gene expression by altering DNA methylation (DNAm), thus affecting epigenetic aging. Studies on the association between quality of carbohydrates and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) are scarce despite the evidence that quality may be more important than amount of carbohydrates consumed.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify the cross-sectional associations of carbohydrate quality and fiber-rich food score with EAA in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

METHODS

Trained interviewers administered the CARDIA Diet History to obtain dietary intake at examination year 20. EAA measures, PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAA) and GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA), were generated based on epigenetic age estimates calculated using DNAm profiling data from fasting blood samples at examination years 20, 25, and 30. Linear mixed-effects regression models were used to evaluate the association of carbohydrate quality, defined using carbohydrate:fiber ratio, and fiber-rich food score with EAA measures.

RESULTS

After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, quartiles of carbohydrate quality (defined using carbohydrate:fiber ratio) were inversely associated with PhenoAA and GrimAA; the highest carbohydrate quality quartile showing a difference (standard error [SE]) of -1.19 (0.2) y for PhenoAA (P-trend < 0.001) and -1.20 (0.1) y for GrimAA (P-trend < 0.001) compared with the lowest carbohydrate quality quartile. Similarly, quartiles of fiber-rich food score (created based on daily intakes of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes) were inversely associated with PhenoAA and GrimAA; the highest quartile showing a difference (SE) of -1.06 (0.2) y for PhenoAA (P-trend = 0.002) and -1.31 (0.2) y for GrimAA (P-trend < 0.001) compared with the lowest quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that consuming a high carbohydrate quality diet and a dietary pattern composed of fiber-rich foods is cross-sectionally associated with slower biological aging.

Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic role of lncRNA in carcinogenesis (Review)

Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key players in the regulation of gene expression by mediating epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modification. Dysregulation of lncRNAs is implicated in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. lncRNAs modulate chromatin structure and gene transcription by recruiting epigenetic regulators, including DNA‑ or histone‑modifying enzymes. Additionally, lncRNAs mediate chromatin remodeling and enhancer‑promoter long‑range chromatin interactions to control oncogene expression by recruiting chromatin organization‑associated proteins, thereby promoting carcinogenesis. Furthermore, lncRNAs aberrantly induce oncogene expression by mediating epitranscriptomic modifications, including RNA methylation and RNA editing. The present study aimed to summarize the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in cancer to unravel the complex interplay between lncRNAs and epigenetic/epitranscriptomic regulators in carcinogenesis. The present review aimed to provide a novel perspective on the epigenetic and epitranscriptomic roles of lncRNAs in carcinogenesis to facilitate identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Assessing transcriptomic signatures of aging: Testing an mRNA marker panel for forensic age estimation of blood samples

Estimating the age of an unknown perpetrator can be a valuable tool in narrowing down a group of suspects. Research efforts to estimate the age of a stain donor have mainly focused on epigenetic modifications, but there is evidence that RNA expression patterns, i.e. the composition of the transcriptome, change with increasing age, which could be a promising molecular alternative for age prediction. In a previous study, we identified a total of 508 mRNA markers with age related expression from two blood whole transcriptome sequencing data sets, using differential expression analysis with DESeq2 and marker selection with lasso regression. For this study, the selected markers from both approaches were combined into an RNA-specific targeted MPS assay for the Ion Torrent platform and evaluated with 100 EDTA blood samples from healthy donors (aged between 23 and 73 years). We compared three different normalization methods for the obtained sequencing data and investigated the performance of various regression techniques for age prediction. The model based on elastic net regression and dSVA-normalized data exhibited the most robust performance, achieving an MAE of 9.29 years and a correlation of 0.57 between the chronological and predicted age. Although the use of a targeted approach instead of RNA-Seq offers several advantages in a forensic setting, we observed a considerable amount of unwanted variation in the targeted sequencing data. We conclude that it is challenging to detect distinct signals associated with chronological age.

Genetic and epigenetic alterations associated with gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse neonatal outcomes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder, recognised during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. GDM is linked with adverse newborn outcomes such as macrosomia, premature delivery, metabolic disorder, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. Recent investigations have focused on the correlation of genetic factors such as β-cell function and insulin secretary genes (transcription factor 7 like 2, potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily q member 1, adiponectin etc.) on maternal metabolism during gestation leading to GDM. Epigenetic alterations like DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA expression can influence gene expression and play a dominant role in feto-maternal metabolic pathways. Interactions between genes and environment, resulting in differential gene expression patterns may lead to GDM. Researchers suggested that GDM women are more susceptible to insulin resistance, which alters intrauterine surroundings, resulting hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Epigenetic modifications in genes affecting neuroendocrine activities, and metabolism, increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in offspring. There is currently no treatment or effective preventive method for GDM, since the molecular processes of insulin resistance are not well understood. The present review was undertaken to understand the pathophysiology of GDM and its effects on adverse neonatal outcomes. In addition, the study of genetic and epigenetic alterations will provide lead to researchers in the search for predictive molecular biomarkers.

The Epigenetic Role of Nutrition Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Recent research has focused on the study of the epigenetic role of nutrition as a tool which is expected to introduce new perspectives in the field of disease prevention and management. Although maternal nutrition is one of the best-studied mechanisms of epigenetic modifications of the fetus/newborn, less is known on the impact of childhood/adolescent nutrition on the regulation of epigenetic mecha-nisms after the first year of life. The aim of the present study was the assessment of the epigenetic role of nutrition in the health and development of children and adolescents.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines in five databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar) up to 31 October 2024, which yielded 17 eligible studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Collabora-tion Risk of Bias-2 tool were used for the evaluation of risk of bias in observational studies and randomized trials, respectively.

RESULTS

Three studies investigated the epi-genetic modifications due to lifestyle interventions combining changes both in diet and physical activity; the remaining 14 studies examined the role of dietary nutrients in the regulation of epigenetic mechanisms in various health conditions, such as Angelman's syndrome, parenteral nutrition in Intensive Care Units, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, risk of cardiovascular diseases, asthma or food sensitization, obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes or evaluated epigenetic markers as new tools for the comprehension and prediction of the participants' response to nutritional interven-tions.

CONCLUSIONS

The important impact of diet on the regulation of epigenetic mech-anisms and the expression of various genes and gene pathways could be utilized for personalized nutritional interventions in various pediatric health conditions.

Marginal interaction test for detecting interactions between genetic marker sets and environment in genome-wide studies

As human complex diseases are influenced by the interaction between genetics and the environment, identifying gene-environment interactions (G×E) is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and predicting risk. Developing robust quantitative tools for G×E analysis can enhance the study of complex diseases. However, many existing methods that explore G×E focus on the interplay between an environmental factor and genetic variants, exclusively for common or rare variants. In this study, we developed MAGEIT_RAN and MAGEIT_FIX to identify interactions between an environmental factor and a set of genetic markers, including both rare and common variants, based on the MinQue for Summary statistics. The genetic main effects in MAGEIT_RAN and MAGEIT_FIX are modeled as random and fixed effects, respectively. Simulation studies showed that both tests had type I error under control, with MAGEIT_RAN being the most powerful test. Applying MAGEIT to a genome-wide analysis of gene-alcohol interactions on hypertension and seated systolic blood pressure in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis revealed genes like EIF2AK2, CCNDBP1, and EPB42 influencing blood pressure through alcohol interaction. Pathway analysis identified 1 apoptosis and survival pathway involving PKR and 2 signal transduction pathways associated with hypertension and alcohol intake, demonstrating MAGEIT_RAN's ability to detect biologically relevant gene-environment interactions.

Exploring the impact of methylation aging on acute myeloid leukemia: Insights from the aging clock

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is more commonly diagnosed in adults. Though there are considerable knowledge about the relationship between adult leukemia and aging, it is rarely studies in children as the occurrence of the disease is rare. Additionally, adult and pediatric AML are known to have different etiology. Studies show that in adult AML, methylation aging is accelerated compared to healthy people. However, this association has not been extensively studied in pediatric AML. To investigate potential correlations between pediatric AML and aging, we analyzed methylation aging clock models that leverage DNA methylation patterns and predict epigenetic age. By established knowledge, we observed that the predicted epigenetic age in adult AML cases exceeds the actual chronological age. Similarly, we found that predicted epigenetic age in pediatric AML cases was also higher than chronological age. In addition, we observed significant changes in the CpG probes of the Epi clock, and these changes were observed to be extensive hypomethylation. Based on this, we found that the Epi clock can recognize changes specific to AML. These findings may have implications for strategies to address aging and quality of life after treatment in pediatric AML patients.

Quality of Life in Pediatric Oncology Patients in Lebanon (2014-2019): A Multi-center Study

Aim Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pediatrics worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) of pediatric oncology patients diagnosed within the last five years at Lebanese hospitals, and who are residing in Lebanon. Methods Pediatric oncology patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire collecting data on personal information, disease status, and QOL using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30-item version) after receiving their guardian's consent. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25 (Released 2017; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Results The study enrolled 146 patients; 82 (56.2%) were boys. The mean age was 11.39 ± 3.90 years. Significant statistical correlations were found between the mother's educational level and physical functioning (p-value = 0.006), the number of siblings and each cognitive functioning (p-value = 0.025), and financial difficulties (p-value < 0.0001). The father's salary was statistically correlated with the patient's emotional and social functioning and financial difficulties (p-value < 0.05). The type of treatment had a significant effect on cognitive functioning and financial difficulties (p-value < 0.05), with chemotherapy patients having lower scores for financial burden than combination therapy patients. A total of 77.4% (113 patients) had leukemia, 16 (11%) had lymphoma, and 17 (11.6%) had solid tumors. Solid tumor patients had higher cognitive functioning scores than leukemia patients (difference = 12.65 ± 4.74, p-value = 0.023). Conclusion Palliative care is needed to relieve the symptom burden and enhance the psycho-social functioning of pediatric oncology patients.

Leveraging DNA methylation to create Epigenetic Biomarker Proxies that inform clinical care: A new framework for Precision Medicine

The lack of accurate, cost-effective, and clinically relevant biomarkers remains a major barrier to incorporating omic data into clinical practice. Previous studies have shown that DNA methylation algorithms have utility as surrogate measures for selected proteins and metabolites. We expand upon this work by creating DNAm surrogates, termed epigenetic biomarker proxies (EBPs), across clinical laboratories, the metabolome, and the proteome. After screening >2,500 biomarkers, we trained and tested 1,694 EBP models and assessed their incident relationship with 12 chronic diseases and mortality, followed up to 15 years. We observe broad clinical relevance: 1) there are 1,292 and 4,863 FDR significant incident and prevalent associations, respectively; 2) most of these associations are replicated when looking at the lab-based counterpart, and > 62% of the shared associations have higher odds and hazard ratios to disease outcomes than their respective observed measurements; 3) EBPs of current clinical biochemistries detect deviations from normal with high sensitivity and specificity. Longitudinal EBPs also demonstrate significant changes corresponding to the changes observed in lab-based counterparts. Using two cohorts and > 30,000 individuals, we found that EBPs validate across healthy and sick populations. While further study is needed, these findings highlight the potential of implementing EBPs in a simple, low-cost, high-yield framework that benefits clinical medicine.

Embracing sex-specific differences in engineered kidney models for enhanced biological understanding of kidney function

In vitro models serve as indispensable tools for advancing our understanding of biological processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and establishing screening platforms for drug discovery. Kidneys play an instrumental role in the transport and elimination of drugs and toxins. Nevertheless, despite the well-documented inter-individual variability in kidney function and the multifaceted nature of renal diseases-spanning from their origin, trigger and which segment of the kidney is affected-to presentation, progression and prognosis, few studies take into consideration the variable of sex. Notably, the inherent disparities between female and male biology warrants a more comprehensive representation within in vitro models of the kidney. The omission of sex as a fundamental biological variable carries the substantial risk of overlooking sex-specific mechanisms implicated in health and disease, along with potential differences in drug responsiveness and toxicity profiles between sexes. This review emphasizes the importance of incorporating cellular, biological and functional sex-specific features of renal activity in health and disease in in vitro models. For that, we thoroughly document renal sex-specific features and propose a strategic experimental framework to integrate sex-based differences into human kidney in vitro models by outlining critical design criteria to elucidate sex-based features at cellular and tissue levels. The goal is to enhance the accuracy of models to unravel renal mechanisms, and improve our understanding of their impact on drug efficacy and safety profiles, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of patient-specific treatment modalities.

Influence of structural racism on cancer health disparities: Tailoring measures relevant to multiple myeloma

This commentary highlights a need for comprehensive measures of structural racism tailored to cancer health disparities, in particular Black-White disparities in multiple myeloma (MM). Recent political and social calls and advances in the ability to quantitate structural racism have led to rapidly growing research on the health consequences of structural racism. However, to date, most studies have used unidimensional measures of structural racism that do not capture cumulative influences or enable the identification of factors most responsible for driving disparities. Furthermore, measures may not reflect aspects of structural racism most relevant to underlying disease processes and risks. This study proposes a multifaceted approach to measuring structural racism relevant to MM that includes comprehensive, disease- and at-risk population-tailored social and environmental data and biomarkers of susceptibility and progression related to underlying biological changes associated with structural racism. Such novel measures of structural racism may improve the ability to assess the influence of structural racism on cancer health disparities, which may advance understanding of disease etiology and differences observed by racialized groups.

Combined exercise training decreases blood pressure in OLDER women with NOS3 polymorphism providing changes in differentially methylated regions (DMRs)

The mechanisms by which the ageing process is associated to an unhealthy lifestyle and how they play an essential role in the aetiology of systemic arterial hypertension have not yet been completely elucidated. Our objective is to investigate the influence of NOS3 polymorphisms [-786T > C and (Glu298Asp)] on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response, differentially methylated regions (DMRs), and physical fitness of adult and older women after a 14-week combined training intervention. The combined training was carried out for 14 weeks, performed 3 times a week, totalling 180 minutes weekly. The genotyping experiment used Illumina Infinium Global Screening Array version 2.0 (GSA V2.0) and Illumina's EPIC Infinium Methylation BeadChip. The participants were separated into SNP rs2070744 in TT (59.7 ± 6.2 years) and TC + CC (60.0 ± 5.2 years), and SNP rs17999 in GluGlu (58.8 ± 5.7 years) and GluAsp + AspAsp (61.6 ± 4.9 years). We observed an effect of time for variables BP, physical capacities, and cholesterol. DMRs related to SBP and DBP were identified for the rs2070744 and rs17999 groups pre- and decreased numbers of DMRs post-training. When we analysed the effect of exercise training in pre- and post-comparisons, the GluGlu SNP (rs17999) showed 10 DMRs, and after enrichment, we identified several biological biases. The combined training improved the SBP and DBP values of the participants regardless of the SNPs. In addition, exercise training affected DNA methylation differently between the groups of NOS3 polymorphisms.

Paternal Contributions to Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Approaches

Background and Objectives: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects numerous couples worldwide and has traditionally been attributed mainly to maternal factors. However, recent evidence highlights significant paternal influences on pregnancy viability and outcomes. This review aims to comprehensively examine male contributions to pregnancy loss, focusing on underlying mechanisms, novel biomarkers, and integrated strategies for improved reproductive success. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted by searching databases including PubMed and Embase for the literature published from January 2004 to October 2024. Studies focusing on paternal influences in RPL-encompassing oxidative stress, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, health conditions, lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and advancements in sperm proteomics-were included. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles in English that directly addressed paternal factors in RPL; studies not meeting these criteria were excluded. Results: The review identified that paternal factors such as advanced age, metabolic and cardiovascular health issues, chronic diseases, lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet), and environmental exposures significantly affect sperm integrity through mechanisms like oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, and epigenetic alterations. Advanced paternal age and poor health conditions are associated with increased risks of miscarriage and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Novel sperm proteomic biomarkers have been identified, offering potential for enhanced diagnostics and personalized interventions. Integrated approaches involving multidisciplinary assessments, preventive strategies, and genetic counseling are essential for effectively addressing RPL. Conclusions: Integrating paternal factors into clinical evaluations is crucial for effectively addressing recurrent pregnancy loss. Recognizing and modifying paternal risk factors through lifestyle changes, medical interventions, and environmental management can improve pregnancy outcomes. The findings underscore the need for incorporating paternal assessments into standard care and highlight the importance of future research focusing on standardizing diagnostic protocols, expanding studies on paternal contributions, and integrating proteomic biomarkers into clinical practice to facilitate personalized treatment strategies.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor ( AHRR ) methylation predicts risk of vascular disease: A cohort study of the general population

AIMS

Smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but there is currently no clinically established biomarker for its cardiovascular damage. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor ( AHRR ) methylation at CpG site cg05575921, a biomarker of smoking behavior, is associated with the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and aortic aneurysm (AA) in the general population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this prospective cohort study of the general population, we measured AHRR methylation in individuals from three visits to the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Information on risk factors was collected at visits with 10 years intervals; visit 1 (1991-1994), visit 2 (2001-2003), and visit 3 (2011-2015). Individuals were followed up in the Danish National Patient Register for PAD and AA until December 2018. Subhazard ratios were calculated using Fine and Gray competing risk regression. In 11 332 individuals from visit 1 ( n =9234), visit 2 ( n =5384), and visit 3 ( n =4387), there were 613 and 219 events of PAD and AA during up to 26.5 years of follow-up. AHRR hypomethylation was associated with a higher risk of PAD and AA with multivariable-adjusted subhazard ratios of 2.82 (1.91; 4.15) for PAD and 2.88 (1.42; 5.88) for AA in individuals within the lowest versus highest methylation quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that AHRR methylation, a strong biomarker for smoking, was associated with the risk of PAD and AA. AHRR methylation could be a useful tool in more personalized risk prediction of PAD and AA.

Environmental exposures influence multigenerational epigenetic transmission

Epigenetic modifications control gene expression and are essential for turning genes on and off to regulate and maintain differentiated cell types. Epigenetics are also modified by a multitude of environmental exposures, including diet and pollutants, allowing an individual's environment to influence gene expression and resultant phenotypes and clinical outcomes. These epigenetic modifications due to gene-environment interactions can also be transmitted across generations, raising the possibility that environmental influences that occurred in one generation may be transmitted beyond the second generation, exerting a long-lasting effect. In this review, we cover the known mechanisms of epigenetic modification acquisition, reprogramming and persistence, animal models and human studies used to understand multigenerational epigenetic transmission, and examples of environmentally induced epigenetic change and its transmission across generations. We highlight the importance of environmental health not only on the current population but also on future generations that will experience health outcomes transmitted through epigenetic inheritance.

Beyond the operating room: addressing the "second-victim" phenomenon in surgical practice

Complications are plausible events during surgical operations. Surgical complications profoundly impact surgeons, often called "second victims" of adverse events. These complications trigger a range of emotional and psychological responses, including guilt, anxiety, heightened empathy, and the looming threat of burnout. Moreover, the toll extends to physical health, with chronic stress and sleep disturbances taking their toll. Surgeons' social lives are not immune to the fallout, and their career satisfaction may wane, pushing some towards defensive medicine practices. While mentorship, counselling, and peer support are crucial support mechanisms, they encounter barriers such as time constraints and the fear of negative perceptions. This paper suggests practical recommendations, including comprehensive wellness programmes, a streamlined badge card system for easy access to resources, and mindfulness training to mitigate stress and burnout. Recognising and proactively addressing these multifaceted impacts is imperative for cultivating a resilient medical community capable of providing optimal patient care.

Traditional Korean diet high in one-carbon nutrients increases global DNA methylation: implication for epigenetic diet

PURPOSE

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic phenomenon through which diet affects health and disease. This study aimed to determine the epigenetic influence of the traditional Korean diet (K-diet) on global DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism.

METHODS

A crossover study was conducted on 52 women. Two diets, a K-diet, high in plant foods and low in calories and animal fat, and a control diet, similar to the diet currently consumed in Korea, were provided to all subjects alternately for 4 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Clinical parameters were measured before and after each dietary intervention. Nutrient intake was calculated by using a computer-aided nutritional analysis program. One-carbon metabolites in the serum and global DNA methylation in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The K-diet group consumed more folate (669.9 ± 6.7 µg vs. 502.7 ± 3.0, p < 0.001), B6, B12, serine, and choline, and less methionine (992.6 ± 63 vs. 1048.3 mg ± 34.1, p < 0.0001) than the control group did. In the K-diet group, the increment of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (0.08 µg/mL ± 0.11 vs 0.02 ± 0.10, p < 0.009) and decrement of L-homocysteine (- 70.7 ± 85.0 vs - 39.3 ± 69.4, p < 0.0168) were greater than those of the control group. Global DNA methylation was significantly increased in the K-diet group (6.70 ± 3.02% to 9.45 ± 3.69, p < 0.0001) but not in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

A K-diet high in one-carbon nutrients can enhance the global DNA methylation status, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism by which the K-diet conveys health effects. Trial registration Korean Clinical Trial Registry (trial number: KCT0005340, 24/08/2020, retrospectively registered).

Evidence for the Contribution of the miR-206/BDNF Pathway in the Pathophysiology of Depression

Depression is a complex disorder with substantial impacts on individual health and has major public health implications. Depression results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, microRNAs (miRNAs), and histone modifications, can produce heritable phenotypic changes without a change in DNA sequence and recently were proven to mediate lasting increases in the risk of depression following exposure to adverse life events. Of these, miRNAs are gaining attention for their role in the pathogenesis of many stress-associated mental disorders, including depression. One such miRNA is microRNA-206 (miR-206), which is a critical candidate for increasing the susceptibility to stress. Although miR-206 is thought to be a typical muscle-specific miRNA, it is expressed throughout the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Until now, only a few studies have been conducted on rodents to understand the role of miR-206 in stress-related abnormalities in neurogenesis. However, the precise underlying molecular mechanism of miR-206-mediated depression-like behaviors remains largely unknown. Here, we reviewed recent advances in the field of biomedical and clinical research on the role of miR-206 in the pathogenesis of depression from studies using different tissues and various experimental designs and described how abnormalities in miR-206 expression in these tissues can affect neuronal functions. Moreover, we focused on studies investigating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a functional target of miR-206, where miR-206 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression by suppressing the expression of the BDNF. In summary, these studies confirm the existence of a tight correlation between the pathogenesis of depression and the miR-206/BDNF pathway.

Breastfeeding: science and knowledge in pediatric obesity prevention

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity worldwide is a significant concern due to its link to severe health issues in adulthood, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To address this issue, this review evaluates the effectiveness of various preventive measures for childhood obesity, focusing on maternal nutrition and breastfeeding. The study underscores the criticality of the periconceptional period, where the diets of both parents can influence epigenetic modifications that impact the child's metabolic pathways and obesity risks. Breastfeeding is a potent protective mechanism against early-onset obesity, significantly enhancing the infant's metabolic and immune health by modifying DNA methylation and gene expression. Furthermore, the perspective underscores the significance of the Mediterranean diet during the periconceptional period and lactation. This diet can effectively prevent gestational complications and improve breast milk quality, fostering optimal infant development. Recognizing that obesity results from genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and social factors, the paper advocates for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach from the earliest stages of life. This approach champions a balanced maternal diet, exclusive breastfeeding, and timely introduction to complementary foods. In conclusion, addressing pediatric obesity requires a multifaceted strategy emphasizing improving prenatal and postnatal nutrition. Further research is necessary to understand the epigenetic mechanisms influenced by nutrition and their long-term effects on children's health. This will help refine interventions that curb the obesity epidemic among future generations.

The future backbone of nutritional science: integrating public health priorities with system-oriented precision nutrition

Adopting policies that promote health for the entire biosphere (One Health) requires human societies to transition towards a more sustainable food supply as well as to deepen the understanding of the metabolic and health effects of evolving food habits. At the same time, life sciences are experiencing rapid and groundbreaking technological developments, in particular in laboratory analytics and biocomputing, placing nutrition research in an unprecedented position to produce knowledge that can be translated into practice in line with One Health policies. In this dynamic context, nutrition research needs to be strategically organised to respond to these societal expectations. One key element of this strategy is to integrate precision nutrition into epidemiological research. This position article therefore reviews the recent developments in nutrition research and proposes how they could be integrated into cohort studies, with a focus on the Swiss research landscape specifically.

Brain Evolution in the Times of the Pandemic and Multimedia

BACKGROUND

In this paper, we argue that recent unprecedented social changes arising from social media and the internet represent powerful behavioral and environmental forces that are driving human evolutionary adaptive responses in a way that might reshape our brain and the way it perceives reality and interacts with it. These forces include decreases in physical activity, decreases in exposure to light, and face-to-face social interactions, as well as diminished predictability in biological rhythms (i.e., the sleep cycle is no longer dictated by natural light exposure and season).

SUMMARY

We discuss the roles of stress and of creativity and adaptability in Homo sapiens evolution and propose mechanisms for human adaptation to the new forces including epigenetic mechanisms, gene-culture coevolution, and novel mechanisms of evolution of the nervous system.

KEY MESSAGES

We present the provocative idea that evolution under the strong selective pressures of today's society could ultimately enable H. sapiens to thrive despite social, physical, circadian, and cultural deprivation and possible neurological disease, and thus withstand the loss of factors that contribute to H. sapiens survival of today. The new H. sapiens would flourish under a lifestyle in which the current form would feel undervalued and replaceable.

Association of phthalates exposure and sex steroid hormones with late-onset preeclampsia: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between phthalates exposure and estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as their role in late-onset preeclampsia.

METHODS

A total of 60 pregnant women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Based on the diagnosis of preeclampsia, participants were divided into two groups: normotensive pregnant women (n = 30) and pregnant women with late-onset preeclampsia (n = 30). The major metabolites of phthalates (MMP, MEP, MiBP, MBP, MEHP, MEOHP, MEHHP) and sex steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone) were quantified in urine samples of the participants.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in the levels of MMP, MEP, MiBP, MBP, MEHP, MEOHP, and MEHHP between women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women (P > 0.05). The urinary estrogen showed a negative correlation with systolic blood pressure (rs= -0.46, P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (rs= -0.47, P < 0.001). Additionally, the urinary estrogen and progesterone levels were lower in women with preeclampsia compared to those in normotensive pregnant women (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, we observed a significant association between reduced urinary estrogen levels and an increased risk of preeclampsia (aOR = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.02-0.46). Notably, in our decision tree model, urinary estrogen emerged as the most crucial variable for identifying pregnant women at a high risk of developing preeclampsia. A positive correlation was observed between urinary progesterone and MEHP (rs = 0.36, P < 0.05) in normotensive pregnant women. A negative correlation was observed between urinary estrogen and MEP in pregnant women with preeclampsia (rs= -0.42, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Phthalates exposure was similar in normotensive pregnant women and those with late-onset preeclampsia within the same region. Pregnant women with preeclampsia had lower levels of estrogen and progesterone in their urine, while maternal urinary estrogen was negatively correlated with the risk of preeclampsia and phthalate metabolites (MEP).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registration ID in Clinical Trials: NCT04369313; registration date: 30/04/2020.

Gender differences in the associations of psychosocial trauma and acute medical stressors with immune system activation and dementia risk

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide a narrative review synthesizing the literature on differences between women and men in relationships among certain stressors associated with immune system activation and their relationship to cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Method: We review the cycle of stress leading to neuroinflammation via cortisol and neurochemical alterations, cell-mediated immune system activation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and how this is implicated in the development of dementia. We follow this by discussing sex differences in stress physiology and immune function. We then review the work on early life adversity (ELA) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), post-traumatic stress disorder, acute medical stressors, and their associations with cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Throughout, we emphasize women's presentations and issues unique to women (e.g. trauma disorder prevalence). Conclusions: There is a need for more mechanistic and longitudinal studies that consider trauma accumulation, both physical and emotional, as well as a greater focus on traumas more likely to occur in women (e.g. sexual abuse), and their relationship to early cognitive decline and dementia.

Carbon Nanodot-Microbe-Plant Nexus in Agroecosystem and Antimicrobial Applications

The intensive applications of nanomaterials in the agroecosystem led to the creation of several environmental problems. More efforts are needed to discover new insights in the nanomaterial-microbe-plant nexus. This relationship has several dimensions, which may include the transport of nanomaterials to different plant organs, the nanotoxicity to soil microbes and plants, and different possible regulations. This review focuses on the challenges and prospects of the nanomaterial-microbe-plant nexus under agroecosystem conditions. The previous nano-forms were selected in this study because of the rare, published articles on such nanomaterials. Under the study's nexus, more insights on the carbon nanodot-microbe-plant nexus were discussed along with the role of the new frontier in nano-tellurium-microbe nexus. Transport of nanomaterials to different plant organs under possible applications, and translocation of these nanoparticles besides their expected nanotoxicity to soil microbes will be also reported in the current study. Nanotoxicity to soil microbes and plants was investigated by taking account of morpho-physiological, molecular, and biochemical concerns. This study highlights the regulations of nanotoxicity with a focus on risk and challenges at the ecological level and their risks to human health, along with the scientific and organizational levels. This study opens many windows in such studies nexus which are needed in the near future.

Childhood obesity from the genes to the epigenome

The prevalence of obesity and its associated comorbidities has surged dramatically in recent decades. Especially concerning is the increased rate of childhood obesity, resulting in diseases traditionally associated only with adulthood. While obesity fundamentally arises from energy imbalance, emerging evidence over the past decade has revealed the involvement of additional factors. Epidemiological and murine studies have provided extensive evidence linking parental obesity to increased offspring weight and subsequent cardiometabolic complications in adulthood. Offspring exposed to an obese environment during conception, pregnancy, and/or lactation often exhibit increased body weight and long-term metabolic health issues, suggesting a transgenerational inheritance of disease susceptibility through epigenetic mechanisms rather than solely classic genetic mutations. In this review, we explore the current understanding of the mechanisms mediating transgenerational and intergenerational transmission of obesity. We delve into recent findings regarding both paternal and maternal obesity, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms and potential sex differences in offspring outcomes. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind obesity inheritance holds promise for enhancing clinical management strategies in offspring and breaking the cycle of increased metabolic risk across generations.

Behind the Genetics: The Role of Epigenetics in Infertility-Related Testicular Dysfunction

In recent decades, we have witnessed a progressive decline in male fertility. This is partly related to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity and diabetes mellitus) and risky lifestyle behaviors. These conditions alter male fertility through various non-genetic mechanisms. However, there is increasing evidence that they are also capable of causing sperm epigenetic alterations, which, in turn, can cause infertility. Furthermore, these modifications could be transmitted to offspring, altering their general and reproductive health. Therefore, these epigenetic modifications could represent one of the causes of the progressive decline in sperm count recorded in recent decades. This review focuses on highlighting epigenetic modifications at the sperm level induced by non-genetic causes of infertility. In detail, the effects on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the expression profiles of non-coding RNAs are evaluated. Finally, a focus on the risk of transgenerational inheritance is presented. Our narrative review aims to demonstrate how certain conditions can alter gene expression, potentially leading to the transmission of anomalies to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of the early detection and treatment of reversible conditions (such as obesity and varicocele) and the modification of risky lifestyle behaviors. Addressing these issues is crucial for individual health, in preserving fertility, and in ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Epigenetic contributions to cancer: Exploring the role of glycation reactions

Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), with their prolonged half-life in the human body, are emerging as potent diagnostic indicators. Early intervention studies, focusing on AGE cross-link breakers, have shown encouraging results in heart failure patients, paving the way for disease progression monitoring and therapy effectiveness evaluation. AGEs are the byproducts of a non-enzymatic reaction where sugars interact with proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These compounds possess the power to alter numerous biological processes, ranging from disrupting molecular conformation and promoting cross-linking to modifying enzyme activity, reducing clearance, and impairing receptor recognition. The damage inflicted by AGEs through the stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways is associated with the onset of chronic diseases across various organ systems. This review consolidates the characteristics of AGEs and the challenges posed by their expression in diverse physiological and pathological states. Furthermore, it highlights the clinical relevance of AGEs and the latest research breakthroughs aimed at reducing AGE accumulation.

An industrialized diet as a determinant of methylation in the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene promoter

Background

Dietary composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases via epigenetic mechanisms.

Objective

Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS).

Methods

We recruited 250 adult volunteers and evaluated their socioeconomic status, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometrics. Peripheral blood was collected and evaluated for cortisol levels, glycemia, lipid profile, and insulin resistance; methylation of CpGs 40-47 of the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene was also measured. Factors associated with degree of methylation were evaluated using generalized linear models (p < 0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were included as confounding factors.

Results

The findings of our cross-sectional study indicated an association between NR3C1 DNA methylation and intake of processed foods. We also observed relevant associations of average NR3C1 DNA across the segment analyzed, methylation in component 1 (40-43), and methylation in component 2 (44-47) with a pattern of consumption of industrialized products in relation to BMI, serum cortisol levels, and lipid profile. These results may indicate a relationship between methylation and metabolic changes related to the stress response.

Conclusion

These findings suggest an association of methylation and metabolic alterations with stress response. In addition, the present study highlights the significant role of diet quality as a stress-inducing factor that influences NR3C1 methylation. This relationship is further linked to changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, and cardiometabolic variables, including glucose levels, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia.

An Overview of the Epigenetic Modifications in the Brain under Normal and Pathological Conditions

Epigenetic changes are changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence. These changes lead to establishing a so-called epigenetic code that dictates which and when genes are activated, thus orchestrating gene regulation and playing a central role in development, health, and disease. The brain, being mostly formed by cells that do not undergo a renewal process throughout life, is highly prone to the risk of alterations leading to neuronal death and neurodegenerative disorders, mainly at a late age. Here, we review the main epigenetic modifications that have been described in the brain, with particular attention on those related to the onset of developmental anomalies or neurodegenerative conditions and/or occurring in old age. DNA methylation and several types of histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, lactylation, and crotonylation) are major players in these processes. They are directly or indirectly involved in the onset of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Therefore, this review briefly describes the roles of these epigenetic changes in the mechanisms of brain development, maturation, and aging and some of the most important factors dynamically regulating or contributing to these changes, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Identification of dihydromyricetin as a natural DNA methylation inhibitor with rejuvenating activity in human skin

Changes in DNA methylation patterning have been reported to be a key hallmark of aged human skin. The altered DNA methylation patterns are correlated with deregulated gene expression and impaired tissue functionality, leading to the well-known skin aging phenotype. Searching for small molecules, which correct the aged methylation pattern therefore represents a novel and attractive strategy for the identification of anti-aging compounds. DNMT1 maintains epigenetic information by copying methylation patterns from the parental (methylated) strand to the newly synthesized strand after DNA replication. We hypothesized that a modest inhibition of this process promotes the restoration of the ground-state epigenetic pattern, thereby inducing rejuvenating effects. In this study, we screened a library of 1800 natural substances and 640 FDA-approved drugs and identified the well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule dihydromyricetin (DHM) as an inhibitor of the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1. DHM is the active ingredient of several plants with medicinal use and showed robust inhibition of DNMT1 in biochemical assays. We also analyzed the effect of DHM in cultivated keratinocytes by array-based methylation profiling and observed a moderate, but significant global hypomethylation effect upon treatment. To further characterize DHM-induced methylation changes, we used published DNA methylation clocks and newly established age predictors to demonstrate that the DHM-induced methylation change is associated with a reduction in the biological age of the cells. Further studies also revealed re-activation of age-dependently hypermethylated and silenced genes in vivo and a reduction in age-dependent epidermal thinning in a 3-dimensional skin model. Our findings thus establish DHM as an epigenetic inhibitor with rejuvenating effects for aged human skin.

Acetylated Histone Modifications: Intersection of Diabetes and Atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, type 2 diabetes is predominant form of diabetes, and it is mainly affected by the environment. Furthermore, the offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorder syndrome may have a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which indicates that the environmental impact on diabetes prevalence can be transmitted across generations. In the process of diabetes onset and intergenerational transmission, the genetic structure of the individual is not directly changed but is regulated by epigenetics. In this process, genes or histones are modified, resulting in selective expression of proteins. This modification will affect not only the onset of diabetes but also the related onset of atherosclerosis. Acetylation and deacetylation may be important regulatory factors for the above lesions. Therefore, in this review, based on the whole process of atherosclerosis evolution, we explored the possible existence of acetylation/deacetylation caused by diabetes. However, because of the lack of atherosclerosis-related acetylation studies directly based on diabetic models, we also used a small number of experiments involving nondiabetic models of related molecular mechanisms.

Oxidative stress and metabolism meet epigenetic modulation in physical exercise

Physical exercise is established as an important factor of health and generally is recommended for its positive effects on several tissues, organs, and systems. These positive effects come from metabolic adaptations that also include oxidative eustress, in which physical activity increases ROS production and antioxidant mechanisms, although this depends on the intensity of the exercise. Muscle metabolism through mechanisms such as aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative lipid metabolism can produce metabolites and co-factors which directly impact the epigenetic machinery. In this review, we clearly reinforce the evidence that exercise regulates several epigenetic mechanisms and explain how these mechanisms can be regulated by metabolic products and co-factors produced during exercise. In fact, recent evidence has demonstrated the importance of epigenetics in the gene expression changes implicated in metabolic adaptation after exercise. Importantly, intermediates of the metabolism generated by continuous, acute, moderate, or strenuous exercise control the activity of epigenetic enzymes, therefore turning on or turning off the gene expression of specific programs which can lead to physiological adaptations after exercise.

Updates on the role of epigenetics in familial mediterranean fever (FMF)

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in the MEFV (MEditerranean FeVer) gene that affects people originating from the Mediterranean Sea. The high variability in severity and clinical manifestations observed not only between ethnic groups but also between and within families is mainly related to MEFV allelic heterogeneity and to some modifying genes. In addition to the genetic factors underlying FMF, the environment plays a significant role in the development and manifestation of this disease through various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs. Indeed, epigenetic events have been identified as an important pathophysiological determinant of FMF and co-factors shaping the clinical picture and outcome of the disease. Therefore, it is essential to better understand the contribution of epigenetic factors to autoinflammatory diseases, namely, FMF, to improve disease prognosis and potentially develop effective targeted therapies. In this review, we highlight the latest updates on the role of epigenetics in FMF.

The influence of epigenetics and inflammation on cardiometabolic risks

Cardiometabolic diseases include metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Epigenetic modifications participate in cardiometabolic diseases through several pathways, including inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Epigenetic modifications, which encompass alterations to gene expression without mutating the DNA sequence, have gained much attention in recent years, since they have been correlated with cardiometabolic diseases and may be targeted for therapeutic interventions. Epigenetic modifications are greatly influenced by environmental factors, such as diet, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and pollution. Some modifications are heritable, indicating that the biological expression of epigenetic alterations may be observed across generations. Moreover, many patients with cardiometabolic diseases present with chronic inflammation, which can be influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The inflammatory environment worsens the prognosis of cardiometabolic diseases and further induces epigenetic modifications, predisposing patients to the development of other metabolism-associated diseases and complications. A deeper understanding of inflammatory processes and epigenetic modifications in cardiometabolic diseases is necessary to improve our diagnostic capabilities, personalized medicine approaches, and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Further understanding may also assist in predicting disease outcomes, especially in children and young adults. This review describes epigenetic modifications and inflammatory processes underlying cardiometabolic diseases, and further discusses advances in the research field with a focus on specific points for interventional therapy.

Epigenetic regulation of bone remodeling and bone metastasis

Bone remodeling is a continuous and dynamic process of bone formation and resorption to maintain its integrity and homeostasis. Bone marrow is a source of various cell lineages, including osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone formation and resorption, respectively, to maintain bone homeostasis. Epigenetics is one of the elementary regulations governing the physiology of bone remodeling. Epigenetic modifications, mainly DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, regulate stable transcriptional programs without causing specific heritable alterations. DNA methylation in CpG-rich promoters of the gene is primarily correlated with gene silencing, and histone modifications are associated with transcriptional activation/inactivation. However, non-coding RNAs regulate the metastatic potential of cancer cells to metastasize at secondary sites. Deregulated or altered epigenetic modifications are often seen in many cancers and interwound with bone-specific tropism and cancer metastasis. Histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylase, and DNA methyltransferases are promising targets in epigenetically altered cancer. High throughput epigenome mapping and targeting specific epigenetics modifiers will be helpful in the development of personalized epi-drugs for advanced and bone metastasis cancer patients. This review aims to discuss and gather more knowledge about different epigenetic modifications in bone remodeling and metastasis. Further, it provides new approaches for targeting epigenetic changes and therapy research.

Epigenetic regulation of inflammation in insulin resistance

Epigenetics focuses on the study of changes in gene expression based on modifications that do not interfere with the DNA sequence, such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification, and non-coding RNA. Epigenetic changes regulate the expression of many genes, including inflammatory ones. Chronic inflammation is often accompanied by insulin resistance (IR), which is characteristic of inter alia type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has been reported that altered epigenetic signature in the promoter regions of inflammatory genes may contribute to the development of IR. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present the current state of knowledge regarding the epigenetic regulation of inflammation in IR. It includes original papers published from 2014 to 2022. It appears that hypomethylation of the SOCS3 gene increases the risk of IR, while the alteration of H3K4me in the NF-kB promoter promotes changes in inflammatory phenotype. Finally, in hyperglycemic states associated with IR, altered levels of H3K4/K9m3 and H3K9/K14ac result in increased expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. In addition, numerous miRNAs have been identified that may become a target in the fight against diseases related to inflammation and IR. Future studies should examine the epigenetic modifications of IR inflammatory markers associated with environmental factors.

Expression of FOXI1 and POU2F3 varies among different salivary gland neoplasms and is higher in Warthin tumor

PURPOSE

Salivary gland tumors are histologically diverse. Ionocytes and tuft cells, rare epithelial cells found in normal salivary glands, might be associated with salivary tumors. Here, we explored the expression of FOXI1 and POU2F3, master regulators of ionocytes and tuft cells, respectively, for common salivary neoplasms using immunohistochemistry.

METHODS

We analyzed normal salivary tissues and nine salivary gland tumors; Warthin tumors (WT), pleomorphic adenomas (PA), basal cell adenomas, and oncocytomas were benign, whereas mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, acinic cell, salivary duct carcinomas, and polymorphous adenocarcinomas were malignant.

RESULTS

Normal salivary glands contained a few FOXI1- and POU2F3-positive cells in the ducts instead of the acini, consistent with ionocytes and tuft cells, respectively. Among the benign tumors, only WTs and PAs consistently expressed FOXI1 (10/10 and 9/10, respectively). The median H-score of WTs was significantly higher than that of PAs (17.5 vs. 4, P = 0.01). While WTs and PAs harbored POU2F3-positive cells (10/10 and 9/10, respectively), the median H-score was higher in WTs than in PAs (10.5 vs 4, respectively). Furthermore, WTs exhibited a unique staining pattern of FOXI1- and POU2F3-positive cells, which were present in luminal and abluminal locations, respectively. Whereas none of the malignant tumors expressed FOXI1, only adenoid cystic carcinoma consistently expressed POU2F3 (5/5), with a median H-score of 4.

CONCLUSION

The expression patterns of the characteristic transcription factors found in ionocytes and tuft cells vary among salivary gland tumor types and are higher in WT, which might be relevant for understanding and diagnosing salivary gland neoplasms.

Epigallocatechin-gallate attenuates rapamycin exacerbated high fat diet-induced autophagy, hormonal dysregulation, testicular and brain oxidative stress, and neurochemical changes in rats

This study investigated whether epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) could counteract the detrimental effects of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in rats exposed to rapamycin-induced reproductive and neuronal changes. Six rats per treatment group (n = 6) were utilized, in which groups 1 and 2 had dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (0.1%) and EGCG (80 mg/kg) respectively. Group 3 received HFD + 0.1% DMSO daily for 56 days. Group 4 received HFD + rapamycin (1 mg/kg) orally for 56 days. Rats in group 5 received HFD for 56 days and EGCG (80 mg/kg, p.o.) from days 29-56. Group 6 received the combination of HFD + rapamycin (56 days) with EGCG (80 mg/kg) from days 29-56. Cognitive loss was assessed using Y-maze-test (YMT). Afterwards, serum sex hormones, insulin-glucose balance, serotonin concentration, acetylcholinesterase activity, sperm features, antioxidants, and the markers of oxido-nitrergic, autophagy and apoptotic mediators were assessed. EGCG reversed rapamycin exacerbated HFD-induced alterations in spermatogenesis, insulin-glucose balance, reproductive hormones, oxido-nitrergic stress, and altered serotonin, acetylcholinesterase levels, and autophagic and apoptotic activities in rats' testes and brains respectively. EGCG significantly attenuated HFD-induced cognitive loss. The study showed that EGCG attenuated rapamycin-mediated HFD-induced spermatogenesis deficiency and cognitive impairment via normalization of reproductive hormones, testicular and brain oxidative stress, apoptotic, autophagic activities, with serotonin and cholinergic levels in rats.

Blood DNA methylation signature of diet quality and association with cardiometabolic traits

AIMS

Diet quality might influence cardiometabolic health through epigenetic changes, but this has been little investigated in adults. Our aims were to identify cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides associated with diet quality by conducting an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) based on blood DNA methylation (DNAm) and to assess how diet-related CpGs associate with inherited susceptibility to cardiometabolic traits: body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglycerides, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Meta-EWAS including 5274 participants in four cohorts from Spain, the USA, and the UK. We derived three dietary scores (exposures) to measure adherence to a Mediterranean diet, to a healthy plant-based diet, and to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Blood DNAm (outcome) was assessed with the Infinium arrays Human Methylation 450K BeadChip and MethylationEPIC BeadChip. For each diet score, we performed linear EWAS adjusted for age, sex, blood cells, smoking and technical variables, and BMI in a second set of models. We also conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to assess the potential causal relationship between diet-related CpGs and cardiometabolic traits. We found 18 differentially methylated CpGs associated with dietary scores (P < 1.08 × 10-7; Bonferroni correction), of which 12 were previously associated with cardiometabolic traits. Enrichment analysis revealed overrepresentation of diet-associated genes in pathways involved in inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested that genetically determined methylation levels corresponding to lower diet quality at cg02079413 (SNORA54), cg02107842 (MAST4), and cg23761815 (SLC29A3) were causally associated with higher BMI and at cg05399785 (WDR8) with greater SBP, and methylation levels associated with higher diet quality at cg00711496 (PRMT1) with lower BMI, T2D risk, and CHD risk and at cg0557921 (AHRR) with lower CHD risk.

CONCLUSION

Diet quality in adults was related to differential methylation in blood at 18 CpGs, some of which related to cardiometabolic health.

Genetic Changes in Mastocytes and Their Significance in Mast Cell Tumor Prognosis and Treatment

Mast cell tumors are a large group of diseases occurring in dogs, cats, mice, as well as in humans. Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a disease involving the accumulation of mast cells in organs. KIT gene mutations are very often seen in abnormal mast cells. In SM, high KIT/CD117 expression is observed; however, there are usually no KIT gene mutations present. Mastocytoma (MCT)-a form of cutaneous neoplasm-is common in animals but quite rare in humans. KIT/CD117 receptor mutations were studied as the typical changes for human mastocytosis. In 80% of human cases, the KIT gene substitution p.D816H was present. In about 25% of MCTs, metastasis was observed. Changes in the gene expression of certain genes, such as overexpression of the DNAJ3A3 gene, promote metastasis. In contrast, the SNORD93 gene blocks the expression of metastasis genes. The panel of miR-21-5p, miR-379, and miR-885 has a good efficiency in discriminating healthy and MCT-affected dogs, as well as MCT-affected dogs with and without nodal metastasis. Further studies on the pathobiology of mast cells can lead to clinical improvements, such as better MCT diagnosis and treatment. Our paper reviews studies on the topic of mast cells, which have been carried out over the past few years.

Loss of PPARα function promotes epigenetic dysregulation of lipid homeostasis driving ferroptosis and pyroptosis lipotoxicity in metabolic dysfunction associated Steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a growing epidemic with an estimated prevalence of 20%-30% in Europe and the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The onset and progression of MASLD are orchestrated by an interplay of the metabolic environment with genetic and epigenetic factors. Emerging evidence suggests altered DNA methylation pattern as a major determinant of MASLD pathogenesis coinciding with progressive DNA hypermethylation and gene silencing of the liver-specific nuclear receptor PPARα, a key regulator of lipid metabolism. To investigate how PPARα loss of function contributes to epigenetic dysregulation in MASLD pathology, we studied DNA methylation changes in liver biopsies of WT and hepatocyte-specific PPARα KO mice, following a 6-week CDAHFD (choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet) or chow diet. Interestingly, genetic loss of PPARα function in hepatocyte-specific KO mice could be phenocopied by a 6-week CDAHFD diet in WT mice which promotes epigenetic silencing of PPARα function via DNA hypermethylation, similar to MASLD pathology. Remarkably, genetic and lipid diet-induced loss of PPARα function triggers compensatory activation of multiple lipid sensing transcription factors and epigenetic writer-eraser-reader proteins, which promotes the epigenetic transition from lipid metabolic stress towards ferroptosis and pyroptosis lipid hepatoxicity pathways associated with advanced MASLD. In conclusion, we show that PPARα function is essential to support lipid homeostasis and to suppress the epigenetic progression of ferroptosis-pyroptosis lipid damage associated pathways towards MASLD fibrosis.

Identification of an association between coronary heart disease and ITGB2 methylation in peripheral blood by a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Blood DNA methylation was associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Caucasians. We investigated the association between DNA methylation in peripheral blood at the reported loci and CHD in the Chinese population.

METHODS

The integrin subunit beta 2 (ITGB2) gene was identified in 196 CHD cases and 184 controls, and its methylation level was determined by mass spectrometry. Logistic regression was used to assess the association.

RESULTS

Hypomethylation of ITGB2 was significantly associated with heart failure CHD and NYHA Ⅰ&Ⅱ CHD patients with minor to medium cardiac function impairment (ITGB2_CpG_11/cg08422803, OR per -10 % methylation = 1.15 and 1.16; p = 0.012 and 0.018 by Bonferroni correction, respectively). Hypomethylation of ITGB2_CpG_11/cg08422803 was a risk factor for CHD in people < 65 years and males (p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction). The combination of ITGB2 methylation and conventional CHD risk factors could efficiently discriminate CHD, heart failure CHD, NYHA I&II CHD, and myocardial infarction CHD patients from controls (AUC = 0.78, 0.81, 0.80, and 0.81, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Blood-based ITGB2 methylation has the potential as a biomarker for CHD. The combination of ITGB2 methylation and conventional CHD risk factors may improve the risk assessment and detection of CHD.

Epigenetic Regulation of Carbonic Anhydrase 9 Expression by Nitric Oxide in Human Small Airway Epithelial Cells

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and determines cell fate; however, the triggers that alter DNA methylation levels remain unclear. Recently, we showed that S-nitrosylation of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) induces DNA hypomethylation and alters gene expression. Furthermore, we identified DBIC, a specific inhibitor of S-nitrosylation of DNMT3B, to suppress nitric oxide (NO)-induced gene alterations. However, it remains unclear how NO-induced DNA hypomethylation regulates gene expression and whether this mechanism is maintained in normal cells and triggers disease-related changes. To address these issues, we focused on carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), which is upregulated under nitrosative stress in cancer cells. We pharmacologically evaluated its regulatory mechanisms using human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) and DBIC. We demonstrated that nitrosative stress promotes the recruitment of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha to the CA9 promoter region and epigenetically induces CA9 expression in SAECs. Our results suggest that nitrosative stress is a key epigenetic regulator that may cause diseases by altering normal cell function.

Epigenetic and inflammatory markers in older adults with cancer: A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology narrative review

The number of adults aged ≥ 65 years with cancer is rapidly increasing. Older adults with cancer are susceptible to treatment-related acute and chronic adverse events, resulting in loss of independence, reduction in physical function, and decreased quality of life. Nevertheless, evidence-based interventions to prevent or treat acute and chronic adverse events in older adults with cancer are limited. Several promising blood-based biomarkers related to inflammation and epigenetic modifications are available to identify older adults with cancer who are at increased risk of accelerated aging and physical, functional, and cognitive impairments caused by the cancer and its treatment. Inflammatory changes and epigenetic modifications can be reversible and targeted by lifestyle changes and interventions. Here we discuss ways in which changes in inflammatory and epigenetic pathways influence the aging process and how these pathways can be targeted by interventions aimed at reducing inflammation and aging-associated biological markers. As the number of older adults with cancer entering survivorship continues to increase, it is becoming progressively more important to understand ways in which the benefit from treatment can be enhanced while reducing the effects of accelerated aging.