| Inorganic arsenic is a contaminant currently poisoning the drinking water supplies of many countries around the world. High doses of inorganic arsenic can lead to arsenic poisoning, which is characterized by skin lesions and skin cancer. It is thought that arsenic may affect gene regulation via epigenetic modes of action such as DNA methylation rather than mutating the DNA sequence of genes. In this study we compared the methylation profiles of 16 individuals from an arsenic endemic region of Mexico. These individuals had varying levels of exposure to arsenic and half displayed signs of arsenicosis. Comparative analyses showed that there were significant differences in the methylation levels of cancer-associated genes between arsenic-exposed and unexposed individuals. These data demonstrate the significant effects of arsenic on the epigenome and highlight the continued need for monitoring of exposure and subsequent health consequences of populations around the globe. |
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