Title:A Review of DNA and Histone Methylation Alterations in the New Era of Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal Diseases
Volume: 21
Issue: 8
Author(s): Seyed Ahmad Rasoulinejad*Faezeh Maroufi
Affiliation:
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol,Iran
Keywords:
DNA methylation, epigenetics, gene expression, hypermethylation, retinal diseases, retinogenesis.
Abstract: Epigenetics has an important role in gene regulation and other cellular
processes. DNA methylation, as one of the main mechanisms of epigenetics, is a type of
post-replication modifications. Aberrant DNA methylation can alter gene expression
patterns; so, it plays a considerable role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. DNA
methylated alterations in the promoter of specific genes can be used for the diagnosis
and proprietary targets acting as a “biomarker”. Early diagnosis and prevention may be
possible due to these biomarkers. According to recent studies, DNA methylation
abnormalities have an important role in the retinogenesis and pathogenesis of retinal
diseases. Retinal diseases are the main cause of blindness and severe vision loss in the
world, which will continue to increase. Also, they inflict an enormous burden on society
and health care systems. Therefore, it is important to focus on the better recognition and
prevention of retinal diseases and finding new targets for the treatment. DNA
methylation is lionized as attractive therapeutic targets due to its reversibility. Epigenetic
therapy has a high potency in the treatment of retinal diseases. Here, we reviewed the
DNA and histone methylation alterations in common retinal diseases, focusing on agerelated
macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment (RD),
retinitis pigmentosa, retinal aging, and retinoblastoma. Then we surveyed some new
approaches to epigenetic therapy in retinal disorders.
