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Epigenetics and Its Role in Periodontal Diseases: A State‐of‐the‐Art Review
Author(s) -
Larsson Lena,
Castilho Rogerio M.,
Giannobile William V.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2014.140559
Subject(s) - epigenetics , periodontitis , chromatin , biology , dna methylation , disease , gingivitis , chromatin remodeling , inflammation , chronic periodontitis , epigenesis , gene , immunology , bioinformatics , genetics , medicine , gene expression , pathology , dentistry
The immune response to oral bacteria and the subsequent activation of inflammatory signaling is not only dependent on genetic factors. The importance of so‐called epigenetic mechanisms presents additional regulatory pathways of genes involved in maintaining chronic inflammation, including gingivitis and periodontitis. The term epigenetics relates to changes in gene expression that are not encoded in the DNA sequence itself and include chemical alterations of DNA and its associated proteins. These changes lead to remodeling of the chromatin and subsequent activation or inactivation of a gene. Epigenetic mechanisms have been found to contribute to disease, including cancer and autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. In this state‐of‐the art review, the authors provide the latest findings on the involvement of epigenetic modifications in the development of periodontal disease and present emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at epigenetic targets (epidrugs) associated with the disruption of tissue homeostasis and the development of periodontitis.