title: Epigenetics, the missing link in hypertension.
abstract: Epigenetics refers to functional alterations in gene expression or phenotype without any change of the underlying DNA sequence. It is the study of the potential of a cell or organism to express different traits through functional regulation of its gene transcription. Though it is met as a necessary process in biology, epigenetics may often play a crucial part in the development of specific pathologic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: First University Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: lraftop@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raftopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Katsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Elena Venizelou Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.affiliation: First University Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.affiliation: First University Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kallikazaros
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Histone modification; Hypertension; nc-RNAs