Epigenetics News and Research

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Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations.

AI reveals new drug targets for cancers with limited treatment options

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have used artificial intelligence to identify drug targets based on mapping regulatory networks in patient tumors.

5 Sep 2024

Unraveling psychiatric disorders with cutting-edge epigenetic tools

The "Innovators & Ideas: Rising Star" section of Genomic Psychiatry features an illuminating "Genomic Press Interview" with Dr. Pierre-Eric Lutz, a rising star in the field of neuro-epigenetics.

5 Sep 2024

Research highlights potential of blood epigenetics for dementia risk assessment

New research suggests that epigenetic markers in the blood could be useful for understanding dementia risk.

28 Aug 2024

CDCA7 identified as key player in hemimethylation sensing

DNA methylation is a process in which a methyl group is attached to the cytosine base of the DNA molecule, and a major way that DNA is epigenetically marked.

28 Aug 2024

Austocystin D's anticancer efficacy linked to CYP2J2 enzyme activity

Austocystin D, a natural compound produced by fungi, has been recognized for its cytotoxic effects and anticancer activity in various cell types. It exhibits potent activity even in cells that express proteins associated with multidrug resistance, attracting significant global research interest.

27 Aug 2024

Grandparental education predicts grandchildren's biological age

Eating well, exercising and attending regular doctor appointments can support a long healthy life, but a new study identified one possible factor beyond our control: whether you had a grandparent who went to college. The study, from researchers at Drexel University and colleagues from the University of California and the University of North Carolina, was recently published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

27 Aug 2024

Immune cells' two-pronged approach to maintaining acetyl-CoA reserves

Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports a study led by Van Andel Institute scientists.

23 Aug 2024

Study sheds light on the dual nature of cellular senescence

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have revealed a new secret regarding senescence, a cellular state similar to sleep that is more likely to affect aged cells.

22 Aug 2024

New insights into macrophages' role in MASH and liver fibrosis

Formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is an inflammatory disease characterized by liver scarring or fibrosis that progressively impairs liver function.

22 Aug 2024

New discovery reveals how DNA regulates inheritance of disease mutations

University of Queensland researchers have discovered a mechanism in DNA that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited.

21 Aug 2024

Breakthrough research unveils retroelement-based aging biomarkers

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the epigenetics company TruDiagnostic have uncovered DNA markers associated with retroelements, remnants of ancient viral genetic material, in our genes that act as highly accurate epigenetic clocks predicting chronological age.

19 Aug 2024

New Springer textbook provides a comprehensive overview of aging science

A new textbook provides an overview on the present understanding of aging - from the basic biology of aging to age-related diseases and to the role of lifestyle and the environment.

19 Aug 2024

Understanding the complexities of epigenetic aging clocks in health research

A new editorial was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 14 on July 17, 2024, entitled, "Recalibrate concepts of epigenetic aging clocks in human health."

14 Aug 2024

Mrc1 protein identified as key to maintaining cell identity during division

In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers have found that a protein called Mrc1 plays a crucial role in ensuring that cells keep their identity as they divide and grow.

13 Aug 2024

New histone tag discovery offers hope for myelin repair in neurodegenerative diseases

In a groundbreaking study, researchers with the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have identified a distinct histone tag in adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that may pave the way for innovative therapies targeting myelin repair, a critical target for several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia.

12 Aug 2024

Study advances understanding of complex neurological disorder

To effectively treat a disease or disorder, doctors must first know the root cause. Such is the case for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), whose root causes can be hugely complex and heterogeneous. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital demonstrated the value of DNA methylation patterns for identifying the root cause of DEEs, showing specific gene methylation and genome-wide methylation "episignatures" can help identify the genes that cause DEE. The findings were published today in Nature Communications.

7 Aug 2024

Mast cells found to capture and employ neutrophils during allergic reactions

Known for their role in allergic reactions, mast cells have long been recognised as key players in our immune system.

2 Aug 2024

Advanced technology and AI used to diagnose rare diseases and birth abnormalities

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute are using advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose rare diseases and prenatal exposure-related birth abnormalities in two studies published today in American Journal of Human Genetics and Genetics in Medicine.

31 Jul 2024

Vegan diet may slow aging

Vegan diets showed short-term benefits on epigenetic aging compared to omnivorous diets in healthy twins, with reduced epigenetic age metrics observed in the vegan group. However, telomere length and overall mitotic clock values remained unchanged for both diets.

31 Jul 2024

Scientists explore early life factors contributing to SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurological disease for which there is presently no cure, although current therapies can alleviate symptoms. In the search for better treatment options, scientists at DZNE and the Dresden University of Technology are now drawing attention to previously unnoticed abnormalities in embryonic development. They base their argument on studies of so-called organoids: Laboratory-grown tissue cultures that can reconstruct disease processes. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

27 Jul 2024