Genomic tools for environmental epigenetics and implications for public health

Abstract

Epigenetics refers to the study of mitotically heritable and potentially reversible changes in gene expression unrelated to the DNA sequence itself, influenced by epigenetic marks including chromatin modifications, noncoding RNA (ncRNA), and alterations to DNA itself via methylation and hydroxymethylation. Epigenetics has taken center stage in the study of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration; however, its integration into the field of environmental health sciences and toxicology (e.g. toxicoepigenetics) is in its infancy. This review highlights the need to evaluate surrogate and target tissues in the field of toxicoepigenetics as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences multiphased Toxicant Exposure and Response by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription consortia make headway and the emergence of ncRNA biomarkers. The review also discusses lead (Pb) as a potential toxicoepigenetic exposure, where prenatal and postnatal Pb exposure is associated with reprogramming of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA expression, representing potential biomarkers or predictors for Pb-induced health outcomes. Finally, new advances in epigenome editing, highlighting the potential of small ncRNA, will be explored for environmental health sciences research.