Aging is characterized by functional decline of diverse organs and an increased risk for several diseases. Therefore, a high interest exists in understanding the molecular mechanisms that stimulate aging at all levels, from cells and tissues to organs and organisms, in order to develop ways to promote healthy aging. While many molecular and biochemical mechanisms are already understood in some detail, the role of changes in epigenetic regulation has only begun to be considered in recent years. The age-dependent global reduction in heterochromatin, along with site-specific changes in the patterns of DNA methylation and modification of histones, have been observed in several aging model systems. However, understanding of the precise role of such changes requires further research. In this review, we will discuss the role of epigenetic regulation in aging and indicate future research directions that will help elucidate the mechanistic details of it.
Keywords: DNA methylation; aging; cell senescence; epigenetic regulation; heterochromatin; histone modifications.