title: Epigenetic mechanisms in metal toxicity.
abstract: The true understanding of epigenetics evolved over time as our knowledge on DNA methylation and chromatin modifications and their effects on gene expression increased. The current flurry of research on epigenetics and the increasing documentation of the effects of various environmental factors on DNA methylation, chromatin modification, as well as on the expression of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have expanded the scope of research on the etiology of various diseases including cancer. The current review briefly discusses various molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and expands the discussion with examples of heavy metal-induced alterations of gene expression and the associated epigenetic changes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Domniki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fragou
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fragou
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouidou
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovatsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D019216:Metals, Heavy