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DNA Methylation and the Epigenetic Program in Stem Cells

  • Chapter
Regulatory Networks in Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

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Abstract

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which refers to stable and heritable changes in gene expression potential, is essential for normal embryonic development and cellular differentiation. Epigenetic mechanisms provide a memory of developmental history of a cell, and are also responsive to environmental inputs. These extracellular cues serve to direct programs of gene expression that restrict developmental potency as the organism proceeds from a totipotent single cell to a fully mature state. Mounting experimental evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications, either DNA methylation or post-translational modification of histones, are functionally required for establishing and maintaining heritable states of gene expression. Importantly, these codes also serve to identify states of developmental potency, and as such may be useful diagnostic and prognostic markers for diseases involving abnormal tissue homeostasis. There is an emerging view that epigenetic alterations play an important role in a wide range of multifactorial disorders. The importance of epigenetic control in developmental regulation of stem cells supports the notion that similar mechanisms regulate adult tissue homeostasis at the level of adult stem cells. Altered cellular plasticity may be a general mechanism through which aberrant epigenetic programs exert their effects. Loss of epigenetic control can lead to reduced self-renewal and accelerated aging of stem cells. Conversely, enhanced self-renewal through epimutation in tissue stem cells, or reacquisition of stem cell expression states by faulty reprogramming mechanisms are thought to represent early events in cancer. The inherent reversibility of these epigenetic states provides a potential therapeutic opportunity to reset the balance of tissue homeostasis through these pathways.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115

    Laurie Jackson-Grusby

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  1. Laurie Jackson-Grusby
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Correspondence to Laurie Jackson-Grusby .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Vinagolu K. Rajasekhar MSc, MPhil, PhD

  2. Invitrogen Corporation, Frederick, MD, USA

    Mohan C. Vemuri Ph.D.

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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Jackson-Grusby, L. (2009). DNA Methylation and the Epigenetic Program in Stem Cells. In: Rajasekhar, V.K., Vemuri, M.C. (eds) Regulatory Networks in Stem Cells. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-227-8_23

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