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Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells within tumors and play significant roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, resistance to treatment, and relapse. They are defined by self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation, and aggressiveness. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and acetylation, histone modifications, and non-coding. RNAs (ncRNAs), are partly responsible for CSC potentials and are involved in the modification of key components of crucial pathways such as Notch and Wnt signaling in breast cancer.
Objective: In this review, we present an overview of the pathways and epigenetic events that lead to the transformation of mammary gland stem cells to breast CSCs (BCSCs). Based on the data presented here, important pathways such as TGF-β/SMAD2 and Wnt/β-catenin and epigenetic modifications, including histone modifications, DNA methylations, and microRNAs, play important roles in BCSC formation and maintenance.
Conclusion: Epigenetic events can alter the expression of genes and functional RNAs, resulting in tumor initiation and progression. Thus, a better understanding of epigenetic modifications involved in BCSC maintenance signaling pathways may help to eliminate or suppress BCSCs and overcome cancer by generating more effective and efficient therapeutic agents.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574888X16666210203111605 | DOI Listing |
Biochem Pharmacol
September 2025
Department of Biosciences, JIS University, 81, Nilgunj Road, Agarpara, Kolkata, West Bengal 700109, India. Electronic address:
The malignant manifestation of breast cancer is driven by complex molecular alterations that extend beyond genetic mutations to include epigenetic dysregulation. Among these, DNA methylation is a critical and reversible epigenetic modification that significantly influences breast cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. This process, mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), involves the addition of methyl groups to cytosine residues within CpG dinucleotides, resulting in transcriptional repression of genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathol Res Pract
September 2025
Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, India. Electronic address:
The intricate interplay between cancer and autoimmune diseases (ADs) is rooted in immune dysregulation, where genetic susceptibility, chronic inflammation, epigenetic modifications, and immunosuppressive therapies contribute to tumorigenesis. The dualistic nature of immune activation complicates therapeutic strategies, as immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immune-stimulatory therapies may exacerbate underlying ADs, leading to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including organ toxicity, dermatologic reactions, and disease flares. Conversely, immunosuppressive treatments aimed at controlling ADs can compromise anti-tumor immunity and reduce the efficacy of cancer therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
September 2025
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 518057, China.
EZH2 catalyzes H3K27me3 and is essential for embryonic development. Although multiple EZH2 variants have been identified, the functional implications and physiological significance of its heterogeneity remain unclear. Here, we revealed that conserved cryptic splice sites generated two EZH2 variants with (EZH2A) or without (EZH2B) a 27-nt region, coding for a 9-aa segment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Pharmacol
August 2025
Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) requires a healthy and functional peritoneal membrane for adequate ultrafiltration and fluid balance, making it a vital treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The spectrum of PD-associated peritoneal fibrosis encompasses a diverse range of collective mechanisms: peritoneal fibrogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), peritonitis, angiogenesis, sub-mesothelial immune cells infiltration, and collagen deposition in the sub-mesothelial compact zone of the membrane that accompany deteriorating membrane function. In this narrative review, we summarize the repertoire of current knowledge about the structure, function, and pathophysiology of the peritoneal membrane, focusing on biomolecular mechanisms and signalling pathways that potentiate the development and progression of peritoneal fibrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant J
September 2025
Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMP UPR 2357, Strasbourg, France.
Trimethylation of histone H3 at lys36 (H3K36me3) promotes gene transcription and governs plant development and plant responses to environmental cues. Yet, how H3K36me3 is translated into specific downstream events remains largely uninvestigated. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis PWWP-domain protein HUA2 binds methyl-H3K36 in a PWWP motif-dependent manner.
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