Aging and Development Epigenetics
Section Editor: Akihiro Umezawa
Associate Editors: Sara Hägg, Monika Puzianowska-Kuznicka, Wolfgang Wagner
This section features innovative discoveries that focus on the epigenetics of aging and development brought about through in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies. Recent findings have shed light on the important role of epigenetics in development and growing evidence supports its link to aging as well. Reports on epigenetics of prenatal and postnatal development such as imprinting genes and gene silencing of maternal or paternal alleles also affect the phenotype/rate of aging after birth are considered. This section aims to publish original works that elucidate the underlying mechanisms and links between development and aging. Resource papers and basic science papers detailing biomarkers of these interdisciplinary fields can be considered if they are significant findings within the field. We ask that epigenetic raw data sets be deposited into public data bases.
Allergy, Immunology, and Pathogen Epigenetics
Section Editor: Georges Herbein
Associate Editor: Kari Nadeau
This section publishes high-quality and innovative research generated from basic science, animal and translational clinical studies that focus on epigenetic regulation in the induction or control of allergic disease, asthma and other immune responses and on epigenetic mechanisms involved in infectious diseases. Research on the application of epigenetic analyses to the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of allergic disease, inflammation and infectious diseases are particularly welcomed. These may also include reports on the interface between environmental exposures and epigenetic changes when important to allergy, asthma, immunology, inflammation and infectious diseases. The studies on the epigenetic regulation of viral and bacterial infections are welcomed. Research on epigenetics of virus-induced cancers is also in the scope of this section. Laboratory studies that report on potentially new epigenetic targets related to allergy, asthma, immunology, inflammation and infectious diseases will also be considered.
Cancer Epigenetics & Diagnostics
Section Editors : Carmen Jeronimo and Maria Berdasco
Associate Editors : Nita Ahuja, James Chim (haematological-based cancers only), Bozena Kaminska, Gwen Lomberk, Arpad Patai (colorectal/GI cancers), Mario Fraga, Jim Davie, Graham K Packham, Arpad Patai (colorectal/GI cancers), Qian Tao, Raul Urrutia, Keishi Yamashita
The development of genome-wide techniques has rapidly improved the comprehensive knowledge of epigenetic alterations in cancer. Currently, a vast number of genes and their associated molecular pathways that show epigenetic differences between normal and tumoral cells have been identified, emphasizing the crucial role of epigenetic factors in cancer etiology and progression. This section publishes original epigenetic research focused on the identification of epigenetic biomarkers associated with cancer diagnosis or tumor progression. Manuscripts on epigenetic biomarkers leading to a better definition of therapy response are also accepted (pharmacoepigenetics). Submissions on reports from human clinical trials providing insights on the clinical application of epigenetic biomarkers are welcomed.
Cardiovascular Epigenetics
Associate Editor : Ronan Murphy
The impact of epigenetics in cardiovascular disease is now emerging as an important player at different levels from etiology to therapeutics. This section publishes original epigenetic research and reviews in all cardiovascular medical specialties from both animal model and human studies. Research that links epigenetic regulation with cardiovascular risk factors, biomarkers and subclinical cardiovascular diseases will also be included in this section.
Endocrinology and Metabolic Epigenetics
Section Editor : Charlotte Ling
Associate Editors : Richard Saffery, Sam El-Osta
Non-communicable disorders of metabolic/endocrine origin are amongst the largest contributors to the burden of mortality and morbidity in the 21st century. Mounting evidence links epigenetic disruption throughout the life course in the etiology of such conditions. A full understanding of their origin requires an in-depth examination of the interplay between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Submissions to this section should increase our understanding of the role of epigenetic processes in the etiology of diseases of metabolic or endocrine origin in either animal model or human observational studies.
Environmental Epigenetics
Section Editor: Steven Gray
The epigenome plays critical roles in determining phenotype and extracellular events within an individual’s environment (pollutants, stress) have been shown to significantly affect the epigenome with wide-ranging implications for health and disease.
This section publishes high-quality and innovative research generated from basic science, animal and translational clinical studies that focus on how environmental exposures can affect epigenetic regulation in the induction or control of disease. Research on the application of epigenetic analyses to the prediction, diagnosis, and effects of environmental exposure to pollutants on all aspects of human health are particularly welcomed. These may include reports on the interface between environmental exposures and epigenetic changes important to long-term human health and disease. Laboratory studies that report on potentially new environmental impacts on the epigenome (for example nanoparticles) will also be considered.
Epigenetic Biomarkers
Section Editor: Marianne Rots
Associate Editor: Harold Snieder
Epigenome Wide Associations Studies result in lists of potential biomarkers. These molecular epigenetic changes not only improve early diagnosis, but also offer novel ways to stratify and monitor patients for and during treatments. This section on Biomarkers is particularly welcoming identification and prospective validation studies of epigenetic biomarkers, especially in non-malignant diseases. Topics include, but are not limited to, epigenome-wide association studies of exposure, lifestyle factors and disease, mitochondrial methylation, mQTLS and diagnostic technology development.
Epigenetic Technologies
Section Editor: Jim Davie
Associate Editor : Albert Jeltsch
The last decade has witnessed a rapid development in genomic high throughput read outs and pipelines. The field of epigenetics has significantly benefitted from these developments and further improved or additional innovative approaches are expected. Clinical Epigenetics offers a platform to share such developments when there is clear relevance with e.g. diagnostics, patient stratification, and therapy monitoring.
Epigenetic Drugs and Clinical Trials
Section Editors : Paola Arimondo and Richard Momparler
Associate Editors : Nick La Thangue, Antonello Mai
This section publishes research on the potential of (novel) epigenetic drugs for the treatment of diseases. Particularly, submissions that provide insights into mechanisms of action of epidrugs, including the immune modulatory effects, are welcomed. Manuscripts on both preclinical and early clinical studies are welcome. Preclinical studies should include the rationale for translation of the activity of epigenetic agents from the bench to the bedside. The clinical trials on epigenetic agents should include the background, rationale, clinical design and key endpoints.
Innovative Therapies
Section Editor : David Segal
Epigenome-wide association studies result in lists of disease-associated epigenetic abnormalities. To exploit such mutations beyond their use as biomarkers, innovative epigenetic therapies (including but not limited to epigenetic editing) are expected to be further developed into the preclinical and clinical testing phase. This section publishes research and reviews on the development of epigenetic rewriting agents for the treatment of diseases, which do not belong to the conventional class of chemical epigenetic enzyme inhibitors.
Lifestyle epigenetics
Section Editor : Wim Vanden Berghe
Although epigenetic mechanisms are inherently stable through cell divisions, various lifestyle factors such as nutrition, pharmacological therapies, medical intervention history, psychosocial stress, meditation, trauma, addiction (alcohol, drugs of abuse, smoking, eating disorders), exercise, geographical living condition (urbanisation, climat, season, altitude), infection history (virus, bacteria, parasite, tick, microbiome) or combinations thereof can (re)shape the epigenetic landscape at different stages during life. This section aims to cover the breadth and depth of studies examining the impacts or interplay of different lifestyle factors on epigenetic regulation. Articles in this section may use animal model or human population approaches to vigorously identify how lifestyle factors impact the full range of epigenetic mechanisms and the implication of those changes on phenotypic health or disease outcomes.
Neurology and Psychiatry Epigenetics
Section Editors: Jonathan Mill and Moshe Szyf
Associate Editor: Jonathan Turner
Neurological and psychiatric disease makes a huge contribution to the global burden of disease, but little is known about their underlying etiology. This section welcomes articles exploring the role of epigenetic processes across the spectrum of brain disorders. We are particularly interested in articles exploring the interplay between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors, and the utility of molecular biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic phenotyping. We would also welcome mechanistic studies exploring the functional pathways involved in mediating the effects of epigenetic variation in the central nervous system using disease-relevant tissue and model systems.
Regenerative Medicine
Section Editor: Adele Murrell
Regenerative medicine seeks to repair or replace damaged or diseased human cells or tissues to restore normal function. It may involve the transplantation of stem cells, progenitor cells or tissue, stimulation of the body's own repair processes. All regenerative medicine strategies depend upon the harnessing, stimulation or guidance of endogenous developmental or repair processes, with stem cell biology at the core. We invite research papers on the epigenetic processes involved in stem cell maintenance, reprogramming, differentiation and transdifferentiation with evidence of clinical impact for regenerative medicine on disease. Cell culture systems have in recent years evolved from monolayer cultures to 3-dimentional spheroids and organoids which are reported to be epigenetically more similar to the parental tissue. We also therefore welcome field-advancing methodology reports for cell based developments that take into consideration the impact of such manipulations on epigenetic stability.
Reproductive and Transgenerational Epigenetics
Section Editor: Eamonn Maher
Associate Editors: Miguel Constancia, Gavin Kelsey
Epigenetic processes play a significant role in prenatal and perinatal development. The regulation of developmental epigenetic programming is determined by the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic marks in germ cells and in embryonic/foetal life. Epigenetic developmental disorders may result from environmental factors that disturb these processes during (e.g., spermatogenesis and in vitro fertilization). Moreover, there is increasing interest in the role of transgenerational effects on the fetal epigenome (e.g. environmental exposures in grandparents). This section welcomes submissions investigating the molecular basis of epigenome regulation in germ cells and prenatal development (e.g., genomic imprinting), genetic and environmental factors contributing to the pathogenesis of epigenetic developmental disorders as well as the clinical consequences are considered if insights are provided in disordered epigenetic regulation in germ cells and/or during early development.