Immense research on unraveling the genetic causes of endocrine disorders with oligogenic/polygenic traits via molecular genetic analyses of the coding regions of the genome have not been yielding. The concept that epigenetics plays a major role in the evolution and phenotypic severity of these disorders has gained momentum in the last decade. A major impetus for a change in paradigm on the genetic approach to these disorders has been the significant lack of available data regarding the frequency of pathogenic variants in coding regions of human genome.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) may be classified as small ncRNAs (including microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, PIWI interacting RNAs) and long ncRNAs. Researchers have uncovered important roles of ncRNAs in several biological processes such as DNA replication, chromatin structure, transcription, splicing, protein targeting/secretion and genome defense. It is not surprising that during the past two decades, researchers have discovered aberrations in the expression of ncRNAs associated with many human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the causal link between ncRNAs and human diseases have paved the path for novel strategies such as the use of anti-miRNA oligonucleotides to inhibit miRNA for treating some types of cancer.
This Research Topic is dedicated to exploring the most recent advances in evaluation of ncRNAs and the current knowledge on the putative influence of epigenetics – particularly ncRNAs- with the evolution and phenotypic severity of endocrine disorders with oligogenic/polygenic traits such as exogeneous obesity, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, precocious/delayed puberty and diabetes. Experts will present evidence-based data where available framed by expert opinions to help elucidate the current state-of-the-art knowledge on these issues.
We welcome original research, reviews, mini reviews, and perspective articles relating to the following subjects:
• Epigenetic control of gene regulatory networks
• Epigenetic pathways linking alterations in nutritional availability, circadian cues and endocrine disruptors with evolution and severity of endocrine disorders such as obesity and diabetes
• Epigenetic regulation of the timing, progress and completion of puberty
• Non-coding RNAs in thyroid disorders
• Non-coding RNAs in obesity and diabetes
• Emerging therapies for endocrine disorders targeting ncRNAs
• New genomic and transcriptomic technologies unraveling the dynamic relationship between the environment, the cellular state and the epigenome
• Circadian clock and epigenetics
Immense research on unraveling the genetic causes of endocrine disorders with oligogenic/polygenic traits via molecular genetic analyses of the coding regions of the genome have not been yielding. The concept that epigenetics plays a major role in the evolution and phenotypic severity of these disorders has gained momentum in the last decade. A major impetus for a change in paradigm on the genetic approach to these disorders has been the significant lack of available data regarding the frequency of pathogenic variants in coding regions of human genome.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) may be classified as small ncRNAs (including microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, PIWI interacting RNAs) and long ncRNAs. Researchers have uncovered important roles of ncRNAs in several biological processes such as DNA replication, chromatin structure, transcription, splicing, protein targeting/secretion and genome defense. It is not surprising that during the past two decades, researchers have discovered aberrations in the expression of ncRNAs associated with many human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the causal link between ncRNAs and human diseases have paved the path for novel strategies such as the use of anti-miRNA oligonucleotides to inhibit miRNA for treating some types of cancer.
This Research Topic is dedicated to exploring the most recent advances in evaluation of ncRNAs and the current knowledge on the putative influence of epigenetics – particularly ncRNAs- with the evolution and phenotypic severity of endocrine disorders with oligogenic/polygenic traits such as exogeneous obesity, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, precocious/delayed puberty and diabetes. Experts will present evidence-based data where available framed by expert opinions to help elucidate the current state-of-the-art knowledge on these issues.
We welcome original research, reviews, mini reviews, and perspective articles relating to the following subjects:
• Epigenetic control of gene regulatory networks
• Epigenetic pathways linking alterations in nutritional availability, circadian cues and endocrine disruptors with evolution and severity of endocrine disorders such as obesity and diabetes
• Epigenetic regulation of the timing, progress and completion of puberty
• Non-coding RNAs in thyroid disorders
• Non-coding RNAs in obesity and diabetes
• Emerging therapies for endocrine disorders targeting ncRNAs
• New genomic and transcriptomic technologies unraveling the dynamic relationship between the environment, the cellular state and the epigenome
• Circadian clock and epigenetics
