Epigenetic and Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Cardiovascular Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are both common diseases seriously affecting human health. CVD refers to a broad range of disorders including diseases affecting the vasculature, the myocardium, the heart’s electrical circuit, and congenital heart disease. NDDs are conditions affecting brain development and function, mainly characterized by impairments of cognition, communication, and motor skills. Although the heart and brain develop in spatially distinct regions, they share similar genetic factors and molecular pathways which are crucial for a precise developmental trajectory. Actually, congenital CVD survivors are at a higher risk of NDD, and whole-exome sequencing revealed a significant overlap between high-risk congenital CVD and NDD genetic variants. For CVD and NDD, the clinical presentations are heterogeneous, and the etiologies are complex. Elucidating the potential pathogenic mechanisms is good for unveiling the pathophysiology and finding the novel therapeutic target.

Advances in DNA sequencing technology prompt the identification of novel causative genes of disease. The mismatch between the early and mature environments may result in inappropriate patterns of epigenetic changes and gene expression that increase subsequent susceptibility to CVD and NDD. However, there are still knowledge gaps for the genetic and epigenetic pathophysiology in the development of such diseases. Full knowledge about an individual’s genetic makeup cannot predict with certainty the onset, progression, or severity of diseases. The disease develops as a consequence of interactions between the “initial” conditions, coded in the genotype, and exposures to environmental agents indexed by time and space. Advances in the understanding of genetic variants and epigenetic modification and their roles in CVD and NDD will provide deep insights for deciphering disease etiologies.

Thus, the current aims of this Research Topic are to collate articles on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying CVD and NDD. We encourage interested investigators to submit review articles and original research based on cell models, animal models, and human samples aiming to promote the research progress of genetic and epigenetic etiology underlying CVD and NDD.

• Interaction between genetic and environmental factors for cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Identification of novel disease-causing genes and variants, as well as epigenetic modifications underlying cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Molecular mechanisms of inherited cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Epigenetic mechanisms involved in the therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Epigenetic therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.