The epigenetic potential of vitamin K2 in brain health.

Abstract

Vitamin K2 refers to a subfamily of vitamin K isoforms known as Menaquinones and, therefore, indicated as MK-n, the "n" indicating the number of isoprene units present in the side chain. Like the other members of the Vitamin K family, K2 is an enzymatic cofactor for the γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX). This enzyme's substrates, which carboxylate glutamic acid residues, are known as Vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs). Besides being involved in bone homeostasis, vitamin K exerts its primary function in the coagulation process. More recently, a function of Vitamin K also in brain homeostasis has been claimed. In addition to these so-called "canonical" effects, recent research highlights the possibility that Vitamin K, particularly Vitamin K2 May 2001have or induce epigenetic effects through the modulation of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs expression. This evidence seems particularly relevant in brain diseases, where epigenetics is gaining a central role as a modulator of multiple diseases-associated molecular metabolisms. The present review examines the recent literature (PubMed) to collect evidence for the role of Vitamin K2 in neurodegenerative diseases with the goal of fostering interest in its epigenetic potential.