Environmental Exposure, DNA Methylation, and Gene Regulation

摘要: Abstract: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates chromosomal stability and gene expression. Abnormal patterns have been observed in many types of human tumors, including those the breast, prostate, colon, thyroid, stomach, uterus, cervix. We others shown exposure to a wide variety xenobiotics during critical periods mammalian development can persistently alter pattern methylation, resulting potentially adverse biological effects such as aberrant Thus, this may underlie increased risk adulthood several chronic diseases, cancer, response xenobiotic exposures early life. present here lessons learned from studies on perinatal diethylstilbesterol (DES) promoters estrogen-responsive genes associated with reproductive organs. Perinatal DES exposure, which induces epithelial tumors uterus mice tract abnormalities vaginal cervical cancer women, provides clear example how estrogenic period abnormally demethylate sequences organ possibly increase later In addition, nutritional factors stress also life modulate other diseases adulthood. suggest status be influenced by environmental life, leading