表观遗传变化与肝癌

表观遗传修饰主要包括组蛋白乙酰化和DNA甲基化,组蛋白乙酰化和DNA低甲基化可促进基因表达,反之,则可抑制基因表达。在肝细胞癌的发生发展过程中,抑癌基因的甲基化特别是高甲基化起着重要作用,与肝细胞癌的形成有密切关系。另外,肝炎病毒等对抑癌基因的甲基化也起一定的调节作用。肝癌的表观遗传学研究对肝癌的早期诊断和病情预后的监测及其防治具有重要意义。

Epigenetics and hepatocellular carcinoma

Epigenetics include two main forms: histone acetylation and DNA methylation, histone acetylation and DNA hypomethylation can promote gene expression,otherwise, they will inhibite gene expression. It is important to the methylation especially the hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene during the hepatocarcinogenesis, otherwise, hepatitis virus can regulate the methylation of tumor suppressor gene. The study of epigenetics will be proved valuable for early diagnosis and disease monitoring at hepatocellular carcinoma.