DNA methylation, smooth muscle cells, and atherogenesis

MO Hiltunen, S Ylä-Herttuala - Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and …, 2003 - Am Heart Assoc
MO Hiltunen, S Ylä-Herttuala
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 2003Am Heart Assoc
DNA methylation is a form of epigenetic modification of the genome that can regulate gene
expression. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter areas leads to decreased
gene expression, whereas promoters of actively transcribed genes remain nonmethylated.
Because of cellular proliferation and monoclonality of at least some of the lesion cells,
atherosclerotic lesions have been compared with benign vascular tumors. However,
although genetic and epigenetic background favors neoplastic transformation …
DNA methylation is a form of epigenetic modification of the genome that can regulate gene expression. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter areas leads to decreased gene expression, whereas promoters of actively transcribed genes remain nonmethylated. Because of cellular proliferation and monoclonality of at least some of the lesion cells, atherosclerotic lesions have been compared with benign vascular tumors. However, although genetic and epigenetic background favors neoplastic transformation, atherosclerotic plaques never develop to malignant tumors. Among cancer cells, common features are genome-wide hypomethylation, which correlates with transformation and tumor progression. Recent studies have shown that DNA methylation changes occur also during atherogenesis and may contribute to the lesion development.
Am Heart Assoc