Treatment of cardiovascular pathology with epigenetically active agents: Focus on natural and synthetic inhibitors of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation

Epigenetic mechanisms involve heritable changes in gene expression that are not linked to the alteration of DNA sequence. Pathogenesis of epigenetic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is associated with global genome-wide changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications. Modulation of epigenetic CVD mechanisms can be achieved by administration epigenetically active agents, for example, by resveratrol. Figure shows the major molecular targets and pathways influenced by resveratrol in cardioprotection and vasculoprotection.211