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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2020, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 632-640.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.20-036

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The role of DNA hydroxymethylation in the regulation of atherosclerosis

Yingchu Hu1,2, Haochang Hu1, Shaoyi Lin1, Xiaomin Chen1,2()   

  1. 1. Department of Cardiology, Ningbo Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315000, China
    2. Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, China
  • Received:2020-04-23 Revised:2020-05-28 Online:2020-07-20 Published:2020-06-01
  • Contact: Chen Xiaomin E-mail:cxmdoctor@126.com
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province No(LY19H020003);the Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo City No(2017A610209)

Abstract:

As an epigenetic modification, DNA hydroxymethylation plays a significant role in regulating gene expression. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that suggests abnormal changes of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and ten-eleven translocation (TET) family proteins in cardiovascular diseases, indicating cardiovascular diseases are closely connected with DNA hydroxymethylation. The level of DNA hydroxymethylation is affected by some common risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as aging, gender, hypertension and smoking. It is also related to the immune and inflammatory reaction involved in the process of atherosclerosis as well as the function of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. In this review, we summarize the mechanism and research status of DNA hydroxymethylation and TET family proteins towards atherosclerosis, aiming to provide a reference for the development, diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Key words: DNA hydroxymethylation, atherosclerosis, 5hmC, TET, epigenetics