title: Epigenetic mechanisms in nanomaterial-induced toxicity.
abstract: With the growing advent of nanotechnology in medicine (therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging applications), cosmetics, electronics, clothing and food industries, exposure to nanomaterials (NMs) is on the rise and therefore exploring their toxic biological effects have gained great significance. In vitro and in vivo studies over the last decade have revealed that NMs have the potential to cause cytotoxicity and genotoxicity although some contradictory reports exist. However, there are only few studies which have explored the epigenetic mechanisms (changes to DNA methylation, histone modification and miRNA expression) of NM-induced toxicity, and there is a scarcity of information and many questions in this area remain unexplored and unaddressed. This review comprehensively describes the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the induction of toxicity of engineered NMs, and provides comparisons between similar effects observed upon exposure to small or nanometer-sized particles. Lastly, gaps in existing literature and scope for future studies that improve our understanding of NM-induced epigenetic toxicity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594.
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shyamasundar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594.
authors.forename: Cheng Teng
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576.
authors.forename: Lin Yue Lanry
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594.
authors.forename: Shaikali Thameem
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Dheen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594.
authors.forename: Boon Huat
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bay
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: DNA methylation; air pollutants; chromatin condensation; epigenetic toxicity; genotoxicity; histone modifications; miRNA; nanomaterial; nanotechnology