title: DNA methylation and atherosclerosis.
abstract: DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification of the genome that has the potential to silence gene expression. Recently, the role of epigenetic alteration as a distinct and crucial mechanism to regulate genes governing cell proliferation in atherosclerosis has emerged. Aberrant methylation is related to aging, and, because it affects a large number of CpG islands, age-related methylation may be an important contributor to increased atherosclerosis among older individuals by upregulating atherosclerosis-susceptible genes and downregulating atherosclerosis-protective genes. Further dissection of epigenetic alterations in atherosclerosis and aging will lead to the identification of novel epigenetic modifiers and improved diagnosis and treatment for atherosclerosis-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Woohyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Pascal J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt-Clermont
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine