Publication Details
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, which are processes that regulate the expression of genes without changing the DNA sequence. These mechanisms are critical for adaptation of cells to various environmental cues and the ability of cells to sustain transcriptional activity. Recent research indicates that epigenetic changes are associated with the initiation and progression of various chronic diseases as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic inflammatory diseases. This influence modifies cellular signalling pathways, phenotypic plasticity and immune regulation as well as metabolic pathways. While there has been groundbreaking progress in understanding genetic determinants of common chronic diseases, classical genetic approaches separate from the epigenome cannot explain all the variance in disease expression and disease processing among those with the same genotype. Such features underline the importance of probing epigenetic regulation and implication of environmental forces including nutrition, stress, lifestyle, and microbiota. We contribute to this knowledge gap by providing a systematic review regarding major epigenetic mechanisms and their role in the pathogenesis of chronic disease, including their potential application as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Epigenetic processes (including DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA regulation) and resultant persistent transcriptional changes related to these disturbances are able to affect the molecular pathways in inflammation, metabolic imbalance, immune dysfunction, and cellular phenotypic alteration associated with chronic diseases. This research highlights how the epigenome serves as a unifying linking pin between genetic susceptibility, environmental exposure, metabolic status and immune activity in chronic disease pathogenesis. Knowledge of epigenetic regulation offers prospects for early diagnostic markers, risk stratification and the design of personalised therapeutic strategies with the goals of correcting stable regulatory disturbances that underlie chronic pathology.