Epigenetic Mechanisms of Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is one of the main causes of human death and disability. Occlusion of the cerebral vessels in minutes leads to a deficiency of oxygen and glucose and the infarction of the nervous tissue. However, neuroprotectors that defend neurons from ischemic damage have not been found yet. This review examines the biochemical processes leading to cell death in the ischemic brain and the molecular factors that spread the damage to neighboring tissues. Although ischemic damage leads to suppression of biosynthetic processes, some proteins are expressed in the brain after ischemia. Epigenetic processes are among mechanisms accomplishing the global regulation of transcription and protein synthesis and control of the cell functional state. This review considers the main epigenetic processes that regulate gene expression and protein synthesis - methylation of DNA, as well as methylation and acetylation of histones. The main attention is paid to proteins that carry out epigenetic regulation: DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases and their isoforms. Their role in brain responses to ischemic damage is discussed. Modulation of proteins of epigenetic regulation is one of the promising strategies for the treatment of ischemic stroke. The application of inhibitors of histone deacetylase and DNA methyltransferase for neuroprotection in ischemic stroke is discussed.