隨著人類遺傳和基因組研究進展，對於心血管疾病相關的遺傳變異鑒定也有了新的進展，但致病機製仍不清楚。最近的研究結果表明，血管疾病CVD發生和發展的表觀遺傳機製，可能與DNA甲基化和組蛋白修飾有關。2015年4月發表於《Trends in pharmacological sciences》(藥理學趨勢)雜誌的一篇文章介紹了相關內容。

        文章初步研究了DNA甲基化，組蛋白修飾和RNA水平與心血管疾病的相關性，涉及的心血管疾病包括動脈粥樣硬化，心力衰竭(HF)，心肌梗死(MI)，與心肌肥厚。值得注意的是，妊娠和產後高膽固醇血症可能會影響患者心血管係統的表觀遺傳學標記，從而提供新的早期表觀遺傳相關病理結論。有趣的是，一些飲食成分，包括茶多酚，可可和葉酸，可以調節DNA甲基化狀態，而他汀類藥物可能通過組蛋白修飾促進心血管疾病的預防。作者還對近期心血管疾病的表觀遺傳調控治療方案和新的挑戰進行了綜述。

        Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2015 Apr;36(4):226-235. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Mar 7.

        Epigenetic-related therapeutic challenges in cardiovascular disease.

        Schiano C1, Vietri MT2, Grimaldi V3, Picascia A4, De Pascale MR4, Napoli C5.

        Author information

        Abstract

        Progress in human genetic and genomic research has led to the identification of genetic variants associated with specific cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have analyzed the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications in the development and progression of CVD. Preliminary work has investigated the correlations between DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-based mechanisms with CVDs including atherosclerosis, heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiac hypertrophy. Remarkably, both in utero programming and postnatal hypercholesterolemia may affect the epigenetic signature in the human cardiovascular system, thereby providing novel early epigenetic-related pharmacological insights. Interestingly, some dietary compounds, including polyphenols, cocoa, and folic acid, can modulate DNA methylation status, whereas statins may promote epigenetic-based control in CVD prevention through histone modifications. We review recent findings on the epigenetic control of cardiovascular system and new challenges for therapeutic strategies in CVDs.