Journal article

Histone deacetylases and their inhibitors in cancer, neurological diseases and immune disorders

KJ Falkenberg, RW Johnstone

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery | Published : 2014

Abstract

Epigenetic aberrations, which are recognized as key drivers of several human diseases, are often caused by genetic defects that result in functional deregulation of epigenetic proteins, their altered expression and/or their atypical recruitment to certain gene promoters. Importantly, epigenetic changes are reversible, and epigenetic enzymes and regulatory proteins can be targeted using small molecules. This Review discusses the role of altered expression and/or function of one class of epigenetic regulators-histone deacetylases (HDACs)-and their role in cancer, neurological diseases and immune disorders. We highlight the development of small-molecule HDAC inhibitors and their use in the labo..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

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Funding Acknowledgements

R.W.J. is a Principal Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia and his research is supported by the NHMRC Program and Project Grants, Cancer Council Victoria, the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia and the Victorian Cancer Agency. The research of K.J.F. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Cancer Council Victoria. The authors thank S. Mincci for helpful comments and advice