Epigenetic targets of arsenic: emphasis on epigenetic modifications during carcinogenesis.
DNA methylation and histone modification promote opening and closure of chromatin structure, which affects gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic markers regulate the dynamic nature of chromatin structure at different levels: DNA, histone, noncoding RNAs, as well as the higher-order chromatin structure. Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that arsenic-induced carcinogenesis involves frequent changes in the epigenetic marker. However, progress in identifying arsenic-induced epigenetic changes has already been made using genome-wide approaches; the biological significance of these epigenetic changes remains unknown. Moreover, arsenic-induced changes in the chromatin state alter gene expression through the epigenetic mechanism. The current review provides a summary of recent literature regarding epigenetic changes caused by arsenic in carcinogenesis. We highlight the transgenerational studies needed to explicate the biological significance and toxicity of arsenic over a broad spectrum.
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Ram Vinod
RV
Roy
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Young-Ok
YO
Son
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Poyil
P
Pratheeshkumar
Graduate Center for Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Kentucky.
Lei
L
Wang
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
John Andrew
JA
Hitron
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Sasidharan Padmaja
SP
Divya
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Rakesh
R
D
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Donghern
D
Kim
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Yuanqin
Y
Yin
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Zhuo
Z
Zhang
Center for Research on Environmental Disease and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Xianglin
X
Shi
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs; D001151:Arsenic