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Do age-related changes in DNA methylation play a role in the development of age-related diseases?

Lookup NU author(s): Sanne van Otterdijk, Professor John Mathers, Dr Gordon Strathdee

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Abstract

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism in mammalian cells. It occurs almost exclusively at CpG sites and has a key role in a number of biological processes. It plays an important part in regulating chromatin structure and has been best studied for its role in controlling gene expression. In particular, hypermethylation of gene promoters which have high levels of CpG sites, known as CpG islands, leads to gene inactivation. In healthy cells, however, it appears that only a small number of genes are controlled through promoter hypermethylation, such as genes on the inactivated X-chromosome or at imprinted loci, and most promoter-associated CpG islands remain methylation-free regardless of gene expression status. However, a large body of evidence has now shown that this protection from methylation not only breaks down in a number of pathological conditions (e.g. cancer), but also already occurs during the normal process of aging. The present review focuses on the methylation changes that occur during healthy aging and during disease development, and the potential links between them. We focus especially on the extent to which the acquisition of aberrant methylation changes during aging could underlie the development of a number of important age-related pathological conditions.


Publication metadata

Author(s): van Otterdijk SD, Mathers JC, Strathdee G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Biochemical Society Transactions

Year: 2013

Volume: 41

Issue: 3

Pages: 803-807

Print publication date: 01/06/2013

ISSN (print): 0300-5127

ISSN (electronic): 1470-8752

Publisher: Portland Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BST20120358

DOI: 10.1042/BST20120358


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Children with Cancer
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Lifelong Health and Wellbeing cross-council initiative by the Medical Research Council
Newcastle National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre
U.K. Department of Health
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Centre for Brain Ageing and Vitality
Dunhill Medical Trust
Economic and Social Research Council
Tyneside Leukaemia Research Association
BH090948Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

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