The mechanism of super-enhancer regulation of gene expression and research progress in neurodegenerative diseases

Shaofei Zhao, Departments of Anesthesiology and Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Qian Yang, Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Changjun Gao, Department of Anesthesiology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Super-enhancers (SEs) play a key role in cell fate determination by regulating the transcription of cell-specific target genes and may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Targeted inhibition of the activity of SEs or knockout of SEs fragments may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. This article mainly outlines the discovery, structure, and identification methods of SEs; lists the current SE database platforms; summarizes the main regulatory mechanisms of SEs and strategies to acquire disease-specific SEs; and reviews recent research advances on SEs in neurodegenerative diseases. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms and development of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Enhancer. Super-enhancers. Alzheimer’s disease. Parkinson’s disease. Huntington’s disease.