TY - JOUR
T1 - Epigenetics in the Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
AU - Cheung, Angela C.
AU - Larusso, Nicholas F.
AU - Gores, Gregory J.
AU - Lazaridis, Konstantinos N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Epigenomics, the study of modifications to genetic material that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence, is generating increasing interest as a means to help clarify disease pathogenesis and outcomes. Although genome-wide association studies have identified several potential candidate genes that may be implicated in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), it is estimated that these genes explain less than 20% of the heritability of these diseases. Thus, to date, the origins of missing heritability for PBC and PSC remain elusive. The epigenome may provide a potentially elegant solution to this phenomenon, as it can be modified by both internal and external exposures (coined the exposome). This may explain differences in disease presentation, treatment response, and rates of progression between individuals. Epigenetic changes may also provide a framework for discovering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and screening of PBC and PSC. Importantly, because the epigenome is modifiable, it may also highlight novel pathways for therapeutic discovery and interventions of these diseases.
AB - Epigenomics, the study of modifications to genetic material that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence, is generating increasing interest as a means to help clarify disease pathogenesis and outcomes. Although genome-wide association studies have identified several potential candidate genes that may be implicated in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), it is estimated that these genes explain less than 20% of the heritability of these diseases. Thus, to date, the origins of missing heritability for PBC and PSC remain elusive. The epigenome may provide a potentially elegant solution to this phenomenon, as it can be modified by both internal and external exposures (coined the exposome). This may explain differences in disease presentation, treatment response, and rates of progression between individuals. Epigenetic changes may also provide a framework for discovering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and screening of PBC and PSC. Importantly, because the epigenome is modifiable, it may also highlight novel pathways for therapeutic discovery and interventions of these diseases.
KW - cholestatic liver disease
KW - epigenetics
KW - primary biliary cholangitis
KW - primary sclerosing cholangitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020285709&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1055/s-0037-1603324
DO - 10.1055/s-0037-1603324
M3 - Article
C2 - 28564724
AN - SCOPUS:85020285709
SN - 0272-8087
VL - 37
SP - 159
EP - 174
JO - Seminars in liver disease
JF - Seminars in liver disease
IS - 2
ER -