Recent expansion of our knowledge on epigenetic changes strongly suggests that not only nuclear DNA (nDNA), but also mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may be subjected to epigenetic modifications related to disease development, environmental exposure, drug treatment and aging. Thus, mtDNA methylation is attracting increasing attention as a potential biomarkerfor the detection and diagnosis of diseases and the understanding of cellular behaviour in particular conditions. In this paper we review the current advances in mtDNA methylation studies with particular attention to the evidences of mtDNAmethylation changes in diseases and physiological conditions so far investigated. Technological advances for the analysis of epigenetic variations are promising tools to provide insights into methylation of mtDNA with similar resolution levels as those reached for nDNA. However, many aspects related to mtDNA methylation are still unclear. More studies are needed to understand whether and how changes in mtDNA methylation patterns, global and gene specific, are associated to diseases or risk factors

Mitochondrial DNA methylation as a next-generation biomarker and diagnostic tool

IACOBAZZI, Vito;CASTEGNA, Alessandra;
2013-01-01

Abstract

Recent expansion of our knowledge on epigenetic changes strongly suggests that not only nuclear DNA (nDNA), but also mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may be subjected to epigenetic modifications related to disease development, environmental exposure, drug treatment and aging. Thus, mtDNA methylation is attracting increasing attention as a potential biomarkerfor the detection and diagnosis of diseases and the understanding of cellular behaviour in particular conditions. In this paper we review the current advances in mtDNA methylation studies with particular attention to the evidences of mtDNAmethylation changes in diseases and physiological conditions so far investigated. Technological advances for the analysis of epigenetic variations are promising tools to provide insights into methylation of mtDNA with similar resolution levels as those reached for nDNA. However, many aspects related to mtDNA methylation are still unclear. More studies are needed to understand whether and how changes in mtDNA methylation patterns, global and gene specific, are associated to diseases or risk factors
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/132315
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