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Epigenetics and cardiovascular disease

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 7, pages 510–519 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Despite advances in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD), this group of multifactorial disorders remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. CVD is associated with multiple genetic and modifiable risk factors; however, known environmental and genetic influences can only explain a small part of the variability in CVD risk, which is a major obstacle for its prevention and treatment. A more thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to CVD is, therefore, needed to develop more efficacious and cost-effective therapy. Application of the 'omics' technologies will hopefully make these advances a reality. Epigenomics has emerged as one of the most promising areas that will address some of the gaps in our current knowledge of the interaction between nature and nurture in the development of CVD. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA alterations, which collectively enable the cell to respond quickly to environmental changes. A number of CVD risk factors, such as nutrition, smoking, pollution, stress, and the circadian rhythm, have been associated with modification of epigenetic marks. Further examination of these mechanisms may lead to earlier prevention and novel therapy for CVD.

Key Points

  • Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is determined by the complex interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors; however, most of the genetic contribution to CVD risk remains unaccounted for

  • The prenatal and postnatal environment can induce changes in gene expression that are independent of the DNA sequence and arise as a result of epigenetic mechanisms

  • Epigenetic modifications that may have a role in increasing CVD risk include DNA methylation, histone acetylation and deacetylation, and alterations in levels of microRNAs

  • Many of the genes associated with CVD risk factors or CVD itself are known to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms

  • The effect of environmental factors, such as diet, smoking, pollution, and stress on CVD risk may be mediated by epigenetic changes

  • Further knowledge of epigenetics might contribute to the development of novel tools for CVD prevention and therapy

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Figure 1: Epigenetics and atherosclerosis.
Figure 2: Epigenetic modifications that regulate transcription or translation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (HL-54776), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK075030), and by contracts 53-K06-5-10 and 58-1950-9-001 from the USDA Department of Agricultural Research Service.

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  1. Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, 02111, MA, USA

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J. M. Ordovás and C. E. Smith contributed to discussion of content for the article, researched data to include in the manuscript, reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission, and revised the manuscript in response to the peer-reviewers' comments.

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Ordovás, J., Smith, C. Epigenetics and cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 7, 510–519 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2010.104

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