Epigenetic modification in nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease and pancreatic cancer

Increasing evidence has shown that epigenetics is closely related to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease. Epigenetic modification processes, such as DNA methylation and protein acetylation and methylation, have been extensively studied. The epigenetic state of cells regulates nutrients as well as the proliferation and development of beta cells. Decreases in the mass of beta cells are likely to cause diabetes. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic modifications play important roles in the development and progression of cancer. Although DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs have been preliminarily confirmed to participate in the development of pancreatic cancer, their roles in the pathogenesis of this disease need further study. In this paper, the roles of the various epigenetic modification processes in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease and pancreatic cancer are reviewed.