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Usage Information

Aging and epigenetic drift: a vicious cycle
Jean-Pierre Issa
Jean-Pierre Issa
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Review Series

Aging and epigenetic drift: a vicious cycle

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Abstract

The term epigenetics refers to stable patterns of gene expression that are seen during differentiation or X chromosome inactivation and are not dependent on dynamic changes in coding DNA. These gene expression states are encoded in the epigenome — a collection of marks on DNA or on histone tails that are established during embryogenesis. Genome-wide studies in aging cells and tissues have uncovered stochastic DNA methylation drift (gradual increases or decreases at specific loci) that reflects imperfect maintenance of epigenetic marks. Drift creates epigenetic mosaicism in aging stem cells that could potentially restrict their plasticity and worsen phenotypes such as stem cell exhaustion and focal proliferative defects that can lead to cancer.

Authors

Jean-Pierre Issa

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Usage data is cumulative from June 2025 through June 2026.

Usage JCI PMC
Text version 3,149 535
PDF 250 97
Figure 334 2
Citation downloads 182 0
Totals 3,915 634
Total Views 4,549
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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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