12.12.2019 change 12.12.2019

Epignetic Lesions Can Be Reversed

Credit: Fotolia Credit: Fotolia

If a cell evolves into cancer for reasons other than a genetic mutation, this process can be reversed. Epigenetics deals with such research. Scientists already have methods for early detection of civilization diseases caused by epigenetic factors, e.g. diet, inactivity and pollution. Diabetes, Alzheimer`s disease, cancer are their current targets.

Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic changes in a cell can be reversed and their consequences successfully treated. This is a chance for patients. For now, some diagnoses, for example "pancreatic cancer", practically mean a death sentence. "It doesn`t have to be this way," argues Dr. Tomasz K. Wojdacz, winner of the "Polish Returns" programme, who transferred his research from Denmark (Department of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Health, University of Arhus) to the Pomeranian Medical University. He previously worked in Australia, England and Sweden.

EPIGENETICS - CELL CREATION PROGRAM

Each cell contains the same genetic material; a matrix for building cells. And yet, the nerve cell, skin cell and muscle cell look differently and have different functions. How does the same DNA create different cells and build the body? This question can be answered by epigenetics.

"Epigenetics +tells+ the cell how to read DNA. It is a program that enables the formation of needed cells. But environmental factors can affect and disrupt this reading process. Then, the cell can get out of control and enter the disease process. Such a cell behaves the way it should not and becomes, for example, a cancer cell," says Dr. Wojdacz.

In the fairly short history of epigenetic research, scientists began with cancer. Currently, disorders of epigenetic mechanisms are observed in almost every disease: from diabetes to diseases of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer or Parkinson, and metabolic syndromes.

These mechanisms are disrupted by environmental factors: food, lifestyle, lack of physical activity, environmental pollution. Researchers want to do more than just remove the factor that disrupts the `reading program`. While you can convince people to exercise and eat healthy food, it`s harder to deal with exposure to pollution. It is also difficult to affect a disease that has already begun by the mere elimination of the "harmful factor". In this case, medicines are needed.

IRREVERSIBLE AND REVERSIBLE CHANGES

"We need to understand the differences between the genetic and external causes of the disease. Genetic factors are changes in the DNA matrix, such as mutations. We cannot fix these mutations for now," says Dr. Wojdacz.

The scientist gives an example of a woman born with the BRCA1 mutation causing breast cancer. Doctors can monitor her condition to detect possible cancer as soon as possible. However, they cannot do anything about the mutation itself. Meanwhile, epigenetic changes can be reversed. The right drug can fix the disrupted mechanism.

"We have an opportunity to intervene. There are many clinical trials of drugs that simply repair and restore the normal +reading program+ so that this muscle cell or epithelial cell that has evolved into cancer returns to its normal state. This can be done because the process is reversible,” says Dr. Wojdacz.

Epigenetic mechanisms enable and disable selected genes. Each organism is equipped with natural systems that control the cell so that it does not become a cancer cell.

Suppressor genes are an important part of these mechanisms. They must function properly, but probably environmental factors can turn them off and then the cell will evolve towards cancer. If it is possible to fix this situation, for example turn the gene back on, the cell will return to normal function. This is the purpose of the treatment.

"There are about 20,000 genes that can be turned off in various ways. The mechanisms of disease formation are very different, so we have over 100 disease units that are cancers. Also, each cancer forms a little differently. In each case, we must learn the specific epigenetic mechanisms that are disrupted. It is extremely important because currently the diagnosis of lung cancer or colorectal cancer detected at a late stage in practice means a death sentence for the patient," the scientist explains.

He adds that epigenetic changes occur at the beginning of the disease process. If scientists can determine what these changes are, they will be able to detect cancer early. They will detect it with a simple blood test before clinical symptoms appear. Such tests are already being developed.

PAP - Science in Poland, Karolina Duszczyk

kol / zan / kap/

tr. RL

Przed dodaniem komentarza prosimy o zapoznanie z Regulaminem forum serwisu Nauka w Polsce.

Copyright © Foundation PAP 2024