DNA methylation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a complex disease with polygenetic tendency, is one of the most important health problems in the world. Recently, in the study of the pathogenesis of the COPD, epigenetic changes caused by environmental factors, such as DNA methylation, started to attract more attention than genetic factors. In this review, we discuss the main features of DNA methylation, such as DNA methyltransferases and the methylation sites that modulate the DNA methylation level, and their roles in COPD progression. Finally, to promote new ideas for the prevention and treatment of COPD, we focus on the potential of DNA methylation as a COPD therapeutic target.

Keywords::

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• DNA methylation
• DNA methyltransferase
• prevention and treatment of COPD

Acknowledgments

The authors thank SH Han (Department of Molecular Microbiology&Immunology, Brown University) for English modification.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81803308) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2021-23). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.