DNA methylation and atherosclerosis.

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification of the genome that has the potential to silence gene expression. Recently, the role of epigenetic alteration as a distinct and crucial mechanism to regulate genes governing cell proliferation in atherosclerosis has emerged. Aberrant methylation is related to aging, and, because it affects a large number of CpG islands, age-related methylation may be an important contributor to increased atherosclerosis among older individuals by upregulating atherosclerosis-susceptible genes and downregulating atherosclerosis-protective genes. Further dissection of epigenetic alterations in atherosclerosis and aging will lead to the identification of novel epigenetic modifiers and improved diagnosis and treatment for atherosclerosis-related diseases.