Epigenetics in Human Development and Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

The molecular era has unraveled aspects of epigenetics in development and disease in humans. The great advancements in this area mainly come from data referring to tumor diseases; however, epigenetic aspects of human development and in inflammatory and mental diseases are still neglected in this regard. Epigenetic markers (DNA methylation, RNA methylation, histone modification, and micro-RNAs) can be used as biomarkers and, since they are reversible, they can also be targets for treatments. In addition to genetic studies, the epigenetic approach can contribute to precision medicine, a healthcare model which advocates for the construction of biological databases for each individual based on concepts of classical genetics, epigenetic marks, metabolomics, and aspects of the patient's clinical phenotype, enabling the establishment of more accurate lines of diagnosis and treatment. This is a promising perspective that could be applied for reducing healthcare costs and lessening patient suffering.

The types of manuscripts we are interested in include original research, reviews, mini reviews, and case reports.

Specific themes include:

1. DNA methylation and RNA methylation marks which are involved in human development and disease;
2. Histone modification marks including methylation, acetylation, etc., which are involved in human development and disease;
3. Non-coding RNA expression, including miRNA, lncRNA, etc., which are involved in human development and disease;
4. Studies with epigenetic drugs will also be considered.

Dr. Naila Francis Paulo De Oliveira
Dr. Maria Cristina Leme Godoy dos Santos
Guest Editors

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