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Epigenetics in Brain Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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Epigenetics in Brain Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Epigenomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2022) | Viewed by 7671

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marzena Maćkowiak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna Street 12, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
Interests: epigenetics; neuropsychiatric disorders; schizophrenia; memory; neuroplasticity; neurodevelopment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Epigenetic regulation in brain development has been the object of extensive investigation in the last few decades. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the aetiology and emergence of several neurodevelopmental disorders, and with the development of novel technologies, we have witnessed an extraordinary understanding of the complexity of epigenetic regulation that affects several aspects of brain function. From a cellular level, this includes synaptic plasticity and connectivity, anatomical organisation and connection of structures to the control of behavioural responses.

In this Special Issue, we aim to present a collection of the latest advances in epigenetic approaches in all aspects of brain development at different stages of pre- and postnatal life. The thematic scope of the issue includes, but is not limited to, a multidisciplinary perspective that provides regulation of epigenetic events by external or internal factors; genomic, epigenomic or proteomic processes in the different types of brain cells; correlation between epigenetic control and behavioural responses, investigating the role of dysfunction in epigenetic regulation and emergence of disorder symptoms and looking for new molecules regulating epigenetic processes that might be important for therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Marzena Maćkowiak
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodevelopment
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • epigenetic regulation
  • chromatin remodelling
  • epitranscriptomics
  • genomics
  • epigenomics
  • proteomics
  • molecular signalling
  • environmental factors
  • therapeutical strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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9 pages, 1052 KiB  
Article
Integrated Quantitative Neuro-Transcriptome Analysis of Several Brain Areas in Human Trisomy 21
by Alejandra Rodríguez-Ortiz, Julio César Montoya-Villegas, Felipe García-Vallejo and Yecid Mina-Paz
Genes 2022, 13(4), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040628 - 1 Apr 2022
Viewed by 1805
Abstract
Background: Although Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent human chromosomal disorder and it causes mainly intellectual disability, its clinical presentation is complex and variable. Objective: We aimed to analyze and compare the transcriptome disruption in several brain areas from individuals with DS [...] Read more.
Background: Although Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent human chromosomal disorder and it causes mainly intellectual disability, its clinical presentation is complex and variable. Objective: We aimed to analyze and compare the transcriptome disruption in several brain areas from individuals with DS and euploid controls as a new approach to consider a global systemic differential disruption of gene expression beyond chromosome 21. Methods: We used data from a DNA microarray experiment with ID GSE59630 previously deposited in the GEO DataSet of NCBI database. The array contained log2 values of 17,537 human genes expressed in several aeras of the human brain. We calculated the differential gene expression (Z-ratio) of all genes. Results: We found several differences in gene expression along the DS brain transcriptome, not only in the genes located at chromosome 21 but in other chromosomes. Moreover, we registered the lowest Z-ratio correlation between the age ranks of 16–22 weeks of gestation and 39–42 years (R2 = 0.06) and the highest Z-ratio correlation between the age ranks of 30–39 years and 40–42 years (R2 = 0.89). The analysis per brain areas showed that the hippocampus and the cerebellar cortex had the most different gene expression pattern when compared to the brain as a whole. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis of a systemic imbalance of brain protein homeostasis, or proteostasis network of cognitive and neuroplasticity process, as new model to explain the important effect on the neurophenotype of trisomy that occur not only in the loci of chromosome 21 but also in genes located in other chromosomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Brain Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders)
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Review

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34 pages, 2226 KiB  
Review
An Update of Epigenetic Drugs for the Treatment of Cancers and Brain Diseases: A Comprehensive Review
by Zahra Sahafnejad, Shahin Ramazi and Abdollah Allahverdi
Genes 2023, 14(4), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14040873 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5448
Abstract
Epigenetics has long been recognized as a significant field in biology and is defined as the investigation of any alteration in gene expression patterns that is not attributed to changes in the DNA sequences. Epigenetic marks, including histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and DNA [...] Read more.
Epigenetics has long been recognized as a significant field in biology and is defined as the investigation of any alteration in gene expression patterns that is not attributed to changes in the DNA sequences. Epigenetic marks, including histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and DNA methylation, play crucial roles in gene regulation. Numerous studies in humans have been carried out on single-nucleotide resolution of DNA methylation, the CpG island, new histone modifications, and genome-wide nucleosome positioning. These studies indicate that epigenetic mutations and aberrant placement of these epigenetic marks play a critical role in causing the disease. Consequently, significant development has occurred in biomedical research in identifying epigenetic mechanisms, their interactions, and changes in health and disease conditions. The purpose of this review article is to provide comprehensive information about the different types of diseases caused by alterations in epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation or methylation. Recent studies reported that epigenetics could influence the evolution of human cancer via aberrant methylation of gene promoter regions, which is associated with reduced gene function. Furthermore, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in the DNA methylation process as well as histone acetyltransferases (HATs)/histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone methyltransferases (HMTs)/demethylases (HDMs) in histone modifications play important roles both in the catalysis and inhibition of target gene transcription and in many other DNA processes such as repair, replication, and recombination. Dysfunction in these enzymes leads to epigenetic disorders and, as a result, various diseases such as cancers and brain diseases. Consequently, the knowledge of how to modify aberrant DNA methylation as well as aberrant histone acetylation or methylation via inhibitors by using epigenetic drugs can be a suitable therapeutic approach for a number of diseases. Using the synergistic effects of DNA methylation and histone modification inhibitors, it is hoped that many epigenetic defects will be treated in the future. Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between epigenetic marks and their effects on brain and cancer diseases. Designing appropriate drugs could provide novel strategies for the management of these diseases in the near future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics in Brain Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders)
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