Epigenetic Regulation in Human Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Epigenetics comprises crucial mechanisms governing chromatin architecture and genome stability. In addition, these epigenetic mechanisms, in turn, regulate the expression of genes in different settings, such as in early development and cell differentiation, in response to environmental (external) factors or in response to/interaction with genetic (internal) variation. The epigenome is thus a highly dynamic regulatory system, and over the last decade the scientific interest in this field has increased tremendously. DNA methylation and histone modifications are, to date, the most commonly studied epigenetic features. Epigenetic regulation is controlled by a complex system of proteins involving epigenetic writers, readers, remodelers, and erasers. Genetic variation in genes encoding for such proteins often leads to severe diseases or syndromes. In many cases, specific epigenetic signatures are associated with particularly rare Mendelian disorders. Since the epigenome can be affected by external and environmental factors, it may also be associated with other classes of disease, including neuro-degenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and non-communicable as well as multi-factorial diseases. Recent progress in statistical methodologies, e.g., machine learning, network analysis, (integrative) multi-omics analyses, and other translational research (e.g., dCAS-based epigenetic editing), has paved the way towards a deeper understanding of the regulatory role of epigenetics within the pathophysiology of disease. In this Special Issue we invite you to submit an original research report or review article deciphering the role of the regulatory mechanism(s) of epigenetics in relation to disease and malignancies, (early) development, aging, or differentiation.

Dr. Peter Henneman
Guest Editor

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