Epigenetics, oxidative stress, and Alzheimer disease

Zawia, NH; Lahiri, DK; Cardozo-Pelaez, F

HERO ID

539007

Reference Type

Journal Article

Subtype

Review

Year

2009

Language

English

PMID

19245828

HERO ID 539007
Material Type Review
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Epigenetics, oxidative stress, and Alzheimer disease
Authors Zawia, NH; Lahiri, DK; Cardozo-Pelaez, F
Journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Volume 46
Issue 9
Page Numbers 1241-1249
Abstract Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder whose clinical manifestations appear in old age. The sporadic nature of 90% of AD cases, the differential susceptibility to and course of the illness, as well as the late age onset of the disease suggest that epigenetic and environmental components play a role in the etiology of late-onset AD. Animal exposure studies demonstrated that AD may begin early in life and may involve an interplay between the environment, epigenetics, and oxidative stress. Early life exposure of rodents and primates to the xenobiotic metal lead (Pb) enhanced the expression of genes associated with AD, repressed the expression of others, and increased the burden of oxidative DNA damage in the aged brain. Epigenetic mechanisms that control gene expression and promote the accumulation of oxidative DNA damage are mediated through alterations in the methylation or oxidation of CpG dinucleotides. We found that environmental influences occurring during brain development inhibit DNA-methyltransferases, thus hypomethylating promoters of genes associated with AD such as the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP). This early life imprint was sustained and triggered later in life to increase the levels of APP and amyloid-beta (A beta). Increased A beta levels Promoted the production of reactive oxygen species, which damage DNA and accelerate neurodegenerative events. Whereas AD-associated genes were overexpressed late in life, others were repressed, suggesting that these early life perturbations result in hypomethylation as well as hypermethylation of genes. The hypermethylated genes are rendered susceptible to A beta-enhanced oxidative DNA damage because methylcytosines restrict repair of adjacent hydroxyguanosines. Although the conditions leading to early life hypo- or hypermethylation of specific genes are not known, these changes can have an impact on gene expression and imprint susceptibility to oxidative DNA damage in the aged brain. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.02.006
Pmid 19245828
Wosid WOS:000265285100001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Epigenetics; DNA methylation; DNA oxidation; APP; Amyloid; Alzheimer; disease; Pb exposure; Free radicals; amyloid precursor protein; dna methylation status; adult lead-exposure; fragile-x-syndrome; promoter region; gene promoter; human brain; app; gene; transcription factors; cytosine methylation
Is Qa No
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