Transposable elements (TEs), which cover ~45% of the human genome, although firstly considered as “selfish” DNA, are nowadays recognized as driving forces in eukaryotic genome evolution. This capability resides in generating a plethora of sophisticated RNA regulatory networks that influence the cell type specific transcriptome in health and disease. Indeed, TEs are transcribed and their RNAs mediate multi-layered transcriptional regulatory functions in cellular identity establishment, but also in the regulation of cellular plasticity and adaptability to environmental cues, as occurs in the immune response. Moreover, TEs transcriptional deregulation also evolved to promote pathogenesis, as in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and cancers. Importantly, many of these findings have been achieved through the employment of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and bioinformatic tools that are in continuous improvement to overcome the limitations of analyzing TEs sequences. However, they are highly homologous, and their annotation is still ambiguous. Here, we will review some of the most recent findings, questions and improvements to study at high resolution this intriguing portion of the human genome in health and diseases, opening the scenario to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Marasca, F., Gasparotto, E., Polimeni, B., Vadalà, R., Ranzani, V., Bodega, B. (2020). The sophisticated transcriptional response governed by transposable elements in human health and disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, 21(9) [10.3390/ijms21093201].

The sophisticated transcriptional response governed by transposable elements in human health and disease

Polimeni B.;Vadalà R.;Ranzani V.;
2020

Abstract

Transposable elements (TEs), which cover ~45% of the human genome, although firstly considered as “selfish” DNA, are nowadays recognized as driving forces in eukaryotic genome evolution. This capability resides in generating a plethora of sophisticated RNA regulatory networks that influence the cell type specific transcriptome in health and disease. Indeed, TEs are transcribed and their RNAs mediate multi-layered transcriptional regulatory functions in cellular identity establishment, but also in the regulation of cellular plasticity and adaptability to environmental cues, as occurs in the immune response. Moreover, TEs transcriptional deregulation also evolved to promote pathogenesis, as in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and cancers. Importantly, many of these findings have been achieved through the employment of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and bioinformatic tools that are in continuous improvement to overcome the limitations of analyzing TEs sequences. However, they are highly homologous, and their annotation is still ambiguous. Here, we will review some of the most recent findings, questions and improvements to study at high resolution this intriguing portion of the human genome in health and diseases, opening the scenario to novel therapeutic opportunities.
Articolo in rivista - Review Essay
Cancer progression; Co-option; Genome plasticity; Immune system response; Next generation sequencing approaches; Transposable elements;
English
2020
21
9
3201
none
Marasca, F., Gasparotto, E., Polimeni, B., Vadalà, R., Ranzani, V., Bodega, B. (2020). The sophisticated transcriptional response governed by transposable elements in human health and disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, 21(9) [10.3390/ijms21093201].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/348982
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