Evolutionary Significance of Epigenetic Mechanisms in Red Blood Cells and Implications in Carcinogenesis

Mechanisms that control the epigenome of organisms, such as DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs, consequently modulate the expression of certain genes. Evolutionary development in red blood cells stems from these modifications in the epigenetics of the cell that are integral in the functional adaptation and specialization of the cells. The incorporation of histone modifications and noncoding RNAs, in addition to the utilization of DNA methylation and acetylation, allocates adaptation in gene expression in response to environmental conditions without changes to genetic code. Particularly in hematologic malignancies, oncogenesis results from the dysregulation of epigenetic alterations. Therefore, potential new therapeutic targets, including DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and BET inhibitors, offer potential strategies to treat hematological malignancies with greater efficacy.