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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2013; 19(32): 5238-5249
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i32.5238
DNA methylation in inflammatory bowel disease and beyond
Daren Low, Atsushi Mizoguchi, Emiko Mizoguchi
Daren Low, Emiko Mizoguchi, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Atsushi Mizoguchi, Molecular Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
Atsushi Mizoguchi, Emiko Mizoguchi, Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Author contributions: All the authors designed and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by National Institute of Health (DK80070, DK74454, and DK64289); the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Medical Foundation and American Gastroenterological Association Foundation to Mizoguchi E; and the Singapore A*STAR Graduate Academy (BM/AIF/13/001) to Low D
Correspondence to: Emiko Mizoguchi, MD, PhD, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, GRJ 825D, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States. emizoguchi@partners.org
Fax: +1-617-7263673
Received: April 5, 2013
Revised: June 13, 2013
Accepted: July 18, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Processing time: 144 Days and 10.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This review discuss the recent research advancement in the area of DNA methylation during the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and IBD-associated cancer, with a focus on highlighting major players mediating DNA methylation alterations during IBD development. Temporal and spatial differential DNA methylation status that contributes to the disease, as well as epi-therapy treatment options for IBD patients, are also discussed. This emerging information will have important clinical significance, especially so in this post-genome-wide association studies era of IBD research.