DNA Methylation in Atherosclerosis: A New Perspective

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Jun 23;2021:6623657. doi: 10.1155/2021/6623657. eCollection 2021.ABSTRACTAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, in which atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathologic basis, are currently the primary diseases leading to human deaths. Emerging evidence showed that DNA methylation, which could affect the transcription and expression of critical regulatory genes, has key roles in AS. Aberrant DNA methylation including aberrant hypomethylation and hypermethylation plays key roles in endothelial-cell dysfunction, macrophage inflammation, abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, plaque rupture, and thrombosis in AS. Chinese herbal medicines, including single compounds and formulations, showed light on the treatment of AS through regulating the aberrant DNA methylation in AS. Targeting the aberrant DNA methylation may be one of the most important treatment strategies in the cure and prevention of AS. In this review, we focus on the relationship between DNA methylation and AS, as well as the beneficial effects of Chinese herbal medicines on DNA methylation in AS.PMID:34257689 | PMC:PMC8249120 | DOI:10.1155/2021/6623657
Source: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Source Type: research