Abstract:

Epigenetics influences gene expression and function without modification of the base sequence of DNA and may be reversible, heritable, and influenced by the environment. Epigenetics has become an increasingly important research field in biomedical. At present, the studies of epigenetic mechanism focus on DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromosomal remodeling and non-coding RNAs. Despite the complex causes of glaucoma, the final passage are retinal ganglion cells death and loss of optic nerve fibers. Current studies found that the growth and development, apoptosis and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells were regulated by the epigenetic changes, which may proclaim the epigenetic mechanism of the glaucoma and may provide new idea for the treatment of glaucoma.