title: [Epigenome and human disease].
abstract: Epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation and histone modifications, mark genes to be used and not to be used, and are stably inherited in somatic cells. Epigenome is their genome-wide compilation, and undergoes dynamic changes in development, differentiation, and reprogramming. Epigenomic changes are causally involved in cancer development and progression by inducing silencing of tumor-suppressor genes and genomic instability. Aberrant DNA methylation can accumulate in a large fraction of cells even in tissues without clonal lesions, which indicates that epigenomic changes can potentially affect functions of a tissue. Multiple reports show that epigenomic changes are present in acquired neurological, metabolic, and immunological disorders, and more research in the field is urgently necessary.
authors.affiliation: Carcinogenesis Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katsurano
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asada
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006657:Histones