Role of epigenetic modifications and aging in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), refers to a chronic and recurrent nonspecific inflammatory condition affecting the mucosal and submucosal layers of the intestines. A positive family history has been identified as a risk factor for the onset of IBD, likely influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In addition to intestinal damage, patients may have extraintestinal manifestations such as inflammation of the skin, eyes, and joints, inflammation of the liver or bile ducts, kidney stones, iron-deficiency anemia, and growth retardation in children, which may complicate diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, investigating the mechanisms of IBD and finding precise therapeutic targets provides enormous benefits to patients with IBD. Multiple studies have consistently demonstrated the influential role of dietary metabolism and aging in the development of IBD. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that aging often coincides with alterations in epigenetic modifications, while diet metabolism mediates these epigenetic changes. Epigenetics has emerged as a prospective field for identifying novel biomarkers to facilitate the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases. Therefore, in this perspective, we summarize the cross-talk between epigenetic modifications, diet metabolism, and aging in the pathogenesis of IBD and attempt to identify new potential therapeutic targets and strategies.