Epigenetic regulation of vascular endothelial gene expression.
Epigenetics refers to chromatin-based pathways important in the regulation of gene expression and includes 3 distinct, but highly interrelated, mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone density and posttranslational modifications, and RNA-based mechanisms. Together, they offer a newer perspective on transcriptional control paradigms in vascular endothelial cells and provide a molecular basis for how the environment impacts the genome to modify disease susceptibility. This review provides an introduction to epigenetic concepts for vascular biologists. Using endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) as an example, we examine the growing body of evidence implicating epigenetic pathways in the control of vascular endothelial gene expression in health and disease.
Matouk
Charles C
CC
Institute of Medical Sciences, St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Marsden
Philip A
PA
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics
D002843:Chromatin; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III