DNA Damage and the Aging Epigenome

J Invest Dermatol. 2021 Apr;141(4S):961-967. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.10.006. Epub 2021 Jan 22.

Abstract

In mammals, genome instability and aging are intimately linked as illustrated by the growing list of patients with progeroid and animal models with inborn DNA repair defects. Until recently, DNA damage was thought to drive aging by compromising transcription or DNA replication, thereby leading to age-related cellular malfunction and somatic mutations triggering cancer. However, recent evidence suggests that DNA lesions also elicit widespread epigenetic alterations that threaten cell homeostasis as a function of age. In this review, we discuss the functional links of persistent DNA damage with the epigenome in the context of aging and age-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Animals
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Epigenome*
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • Models, Animal
  • Telomere Shortening*