title: Epigenomic targets for the treatment of respiratory disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of processes lead to epigenetic and epigenomic modifications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To address the importance of epigenomics in respiratory disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies of epigenomics were analysed in relation to chronic respiratory diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In lung cancer and mesothelioma, a number of genes involved in carcinogenesis have been demonstrated to be hypermethylated, implicating epigenomic changes in the aetiology of these cancers. Hypermethylated genes have also been associated with lung cancer recurrence, indicating epigenomic regulation of metastasis. In airway diseases, modulation of histone function may activate inflammatory mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and lead to relative steroid resistance. There is emerging evidence for the role of epigenetic changes in chronic lung diseases such as asthma, including responses to environmental exposures in utero and to the effects of air pollution. Insight into epigenomics will lead to the development of novel biomarkers and treatment targets in respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: The Prince Charles Hospital, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Brisbane, Australia. Rayleen_Bowman@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Rayleen V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Casey M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Morgan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Santiyagu M Savarimuthu
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kwun M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs