Roles of modifications of chromatin and histone in osteogenesis

Zhang Wen-hai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.32.019

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis is a key part in bone tissue engineering. The modifications of chromatin and histone are paid much more attention during the process of osteogenesis. Methylation and acetylation are important styles of modifications, which are highlighted in the field of bone tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effect of methylation and acetylation in osteogenesis and their mechanisms in modifications of chromatin and histone, especially in bone.METHODS: A computer-based online search was conducted in PubMed databases using the keywords of "osteogenesis,methylation, acetylation, epigenetics" from January 2007 to May 2016. The language was limited to English. The artides were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then summarized in aspects of DNA methylation and its biological regulation, DNA methylation in bone, histone post-translational modifications, biological regulation of histone methylation and acetylation as well as histone modifications in bone.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 102 articles were collected and 42 articles were included finally. These results show that methylation and acetylation are important styles of modifications of chromatin and histone, both playing important roles in osteogenesis. Modifications of osteogenic chromatin and histone are characterized as dynamization and specificity. The DNA methylation is beneficial to gene silence. The histone acetylation helps gene expression in osteogenesis, both playing important roles in information transduction and epigenetic information.