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Mitochondrial Epigenetics and Environmental Exposure

  • Environmental Epigenetics (A Baccarelli, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The rising toll of chronic and debilitating diseases brought about by the exposure to an ever expanding number of environmental pollutants and socio-economic factors is calling for action. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the effects of environmental exposures can lead to the development of biomarkers that can support the public health fields of both early diagnosis and intervention to limit the burden of environmental diseases. The study of mitochondrial epigenetics carries high hopes to provide important biomarkers of exposure and disease. Mitochondria are in fact on the frontline of the cellular response to the environment. Modifications of the epigenetic factors regulating the mitochondrial activity are emerging as informative tools that can effectively report on the effects of the environment on the phenotype. Here, we will discuss the emerging field of mitochondrial epigenetics. This review describes the main epigenetic phenomena that modify the activity of the mitochondrial DNA including DNA methylation, long and short non-coding RNAs. We will discuss the unique pattern of mitochondrial DNA methylation, describe the challenges of correctly measuring it, and report on the existing studies that have analysed the correlation between environmental exposures and mitochondrial DNA methylation. Finally, we provide a brief account of the therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondria currently under consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levi Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Luca Lambertini

  2. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levi Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Luca Lambertini

  3. Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Hyang-Min Byun

  4. Ageing Research Laboratory, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Edwardson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK

    Hyang-Min Byun

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Lambertini, L., Byun, HM. Mitochondrial Epigenetics and Environmental Exposure. Curr Envir Health Rpt 3, 214–224 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-016-0103-2

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