title: The mechanisms of HSC activation and epigenetic regulation of HSCs phenotypes.
abstract: Epigenetics is a dynamically expanding field of science entailing numerous regulatory mechanisms controlling changes of gene expression in response to environmental factors. Over the recent years there has been a great interest in epigenetic marks as a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool or future target for treatment of various human diseases. There is an increasing body of published research to suggest that epigenetic events regulate progression of chronic liver disease. Experimental manipulation of epigenetic signatures such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation / methylation and the activities of proteins that either annotate or interpret these epigenetic marks can have profound effects on the activation and phenotype of HSC, key cells responsible for onset and progression of liver fibrosis. This review presents recent advances in epigenetic alterations, which could provide mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and provide novel clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4 Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4 Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 4 Floor, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mann
keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetics; hepatic stellate cells; histone modyfications; liver fibrosis; microRNAs