Epigenetics Reports is a newly launched, peer-reviewed Open Access Journal, joining the flagship title Epigenetics in establishing a committed and welcoming home for high-quality research within the rapidly growing field of epigenetics. The goal of the journal is to provide a more accessible platform where basic scientists and clinicians exchange ideas and knowledge, discuss emerging topics, and report novel findings. Epigenetics Reports aims to appeal to all corners of the wider epigenetics community, welcoming new and established authors with quality research in the current, high-growth areas of epigenetic regulation, including but not limited to DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, chromosome organization, and non-coding RNAs.
The journal will cover a broad range of epigenetic topics, spanning epigenetic-mediated cell differentiation in normal development to epigenetic-controlled disease predisposition and susceptibility under pathological conditions. The journal will initially comprise four sections: Epigenetic Inheritance, Epigenetics and Disease, Epigenetics Techniques and Methodologies, and Therapeutics and Innovations in Epigenetics.
The Epigenetic Inheritance section features articles on transgenerational or intergenerational inheritance, epigenetic-environment interaction, gene imprinting, and epigenetics in prenatal and perinatal development. While classic genetics has demonstrated that parents confer offspring phenotypes through genetic material, the DNA, increasing evidence shows that certain acquired traits, not encoded in the DNA sequences, can also be passed to the next generation through modifications on chromatin or mechanisms to be elucidated. This transgenerational epigenetics, the transmission persisting for many generations, or intergenerational epigenetics, the transmission persisting for one or two generations, not only underlies biodiversity but could also be the basis of evolution. Another feature of epigenetics is to integrate various environmental effects to define gene expression programs and, thus, cell and individual phenotypes. The physiological status, psychosocial factors, social conditions, diet, pathogen infection, and even climate change can affect the expression of genetic information. These environmental factors not only affect an individual but also have consequences on offspring, whereas contributions from both parents have been documented. Defining how these environmental and social conditions impact parent epigenetics and how this alternation affects prenatal and perinatal development and the disease susceptibility of the next generation has important implications for human health. This area should be particularly highlighted, as these factors may undergird long-sought historically driven racial and regional health disparities. This section also covers classic epigenetic phenomena, gene imprinting, and X inactivation, on parent-specific gene expression and inherent human diseases.
Cancer has been a focus of epigenetics; however, recent data suggest that epigenetics may underpin many additional human diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. The Epigenetics and Disease section welcomes articles pertinent to these topics. Furthermore, ageing is a well-known epigenetic-mediated process, and the epigenetic clock has been implicated in many age-dependent human diseases such as strokes, hypertension, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, etc. How the epigenetic clock of ageing can be slowed down or turned back (rejuvenation) is an area of increasing attention. The reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells into pluripotent stem cell status suggests that rejuvenation may be feasible in organisms. The application of epigenetic mechanism to combat the ageing progress is a highlighted area in the Epigenetics and Disease section.
The appealing feature of epigenetics in human disease is its plasticity and reversibility. An area of particular interest is whether certain interference can be applied to alter or slow down epigenetic changes to prevent or delay disease onset. Along this line, certain epigenetic markers, appearing far earlier than genetic changes, may be used in therapeutics and early detection of certain diseases. The reversibility feature of epigenetics may allow for the design of strategies, through therapeutic intervention or food supplements and alternative medicine, to reverse or slow down the pathogenic epigenetic alterations associated with disease progression. Many critical epigenetic modifying enzymes have been targeted for therapeutic purposes, and this may represent promising future combinatory treatment regimes. Diseases caused by pathogens, including viral infection, involve the complex interaction between the host genome and pathogen genome, wherein both are reprogrammed to suit their respective needs. Many questions with respect to epigenetic regulation of virus infection and unintended cell cancer transformation present an interesting area to explore. The Therapeutics and Innovation on Epigenetics section solicits articles employing epigenetic mechanisms for human disease diagnosis and treatment.
Current advances in epigenetic methodologies, including next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analyses, have been revolutionary during the past decade, allowing the field to decipher the connection between certain chromatin modifications or status with output on gene expression profiles. However, methodologies linking environmental diversity to epigenetic changes to account for disease susceptibility and health disparity in populations remain scarce. The multivariate nature of environmental factors makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of epigenetic changes outside of a laboratory setting. This fledging field is starting to draw the attention of many scientists. The Epigenetics Techniques and Methodologies section welcomes papers highlighting method developments in epigenetics and will serve as a useful reference resource for researchers in the field.
In addition to these highlighted areas, Epigenetics Reports welcomes research on all epigenetic topics. The journal will initially offer opportunities to publish Original Research, Reviews, Rapid Communications, Brief Reports, Data Notes, Methods, and Protocols article types. The journal intends to specialize in highlighting these rapidly developing topics and discussing emergent innovations and novel therapeutic treatment strategies.
With a specific mission to innovate, Epigenetics Reports offers a rapid and efficient peer review-to-publication path, and the editorial team aims to provide a swift turnaround time. As a special offer, we are very pleased to inform you that Epigenetics Reports will waive the article publication fee for all manuscripts submitted in 2023.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to thank Dr. Louise T. Chow, Ms. Emma Williams, Dr. Chelsea A. Skelley, and Mr. Yongsheng Liu for discussions and suggestions.