Page 53 - GTM-2-4
P. 53
Global Translational Medicine Epigenetics on cardiovascular diseases
to genetics. However, it does raise questions regarding the Table 1. Clinical understanding of chronic cardiac diseases
privacy and health status of subsequent generations, as well with reductionism and systems biology approach (Reused
as issues related to health justice, equality of opportunities, from Louridas and Lourida [147] )
and ethical questions. The impact of epigenetic sciences Medical Reductionism’s Systems biology holistic
extends to addressing fundamental and contentious issues applications objectives strategy
in ontogenesis, encompassing the malleability of our own Clinical Isolated clinical Interactions between
bodies, receptiveness to environmental and social conditions focus parameters components, such as
throughout life, and the importance of these processes in molecules, networks,
adaptation, inheritance, and evolution [22,23] . Recognizing the modules, and models
societal importance of interdisciplinary integration, efforts (phenotypes)
are being made to facilitate the reuse of clinical data for the Prevention Isolated culprit molecular As an entity, the whole
benefit of patients. This collaborative approach poses ethical and environmental range of culpable variables
parameters
challenges related to patient autonomy and privacy, but it
also presents an opportunity for progress by borrowing Diagnosis Isolated molecules, The patient as a “diseased
person”
biomarkers, signs, and
concepts from one field to another while maintaining patient symptoms
confidentiality in view of complex ethical dilemmas. Ethical Therapy Treating causes and Treating the patient from a
implications in epigenetics become particularly pertinent symptoms holistic perspective
when patients undergo screening for diseases connected to
lifestyle and environmental exposures, potentially leading The holistic principle of SB presents an active and
to issues of discrimination and stigmatization . Dupras expanding scientific field grounded in the principles of
[24]
[25]
et al. used the term epigenetics to outline the relationship integrative computational analysis. It produces interactive
between toxic exposures and epigenetic modifications, pathological networks and phenotypes, offering broad
epigenetic variants and diseases, and the inheritance applications in clinical medicine . To understand the
[12]
of acquired epigenetic traits. In addition, ethical issues concept of the holistic principle of SB, we should briefly
emerge in the research and development of epigenomic turn to some recent developments in biology. The Modern
technologies, prompting questions about guidance for Synthesis (Neo-Darwinist) is founded on a reductionist
researchers in the field . Contrary to social epigenetics, approach. It posits a gene-centered theory of evolution,
[26]
Deichmann disputes and emphasizes the focus on the deconstructing biological systems into constituent parts
[27]
environment and Lamarckian inheritance in social sciences, to elucidate the chemical principles governing molecular
accrediting epigenetics with epistemic prestige. activities [12,33] . In contrast, biological relativity (BR) is a
2.3. The holistic principle of systems biology new theory of evolution emphasizing the integration of
diverse biological mechanisms and networks manifested
Conventional healthcare systems traditionally employ by dynamically functional systems. BR posits the absence
a reductionist approach, wherein medical problems are of an authoritative level of causation in biology , asserting
[34]
simplified to isolated organ problems or biochemical that “life is systems within systems within systems, and
faults. The term “disease” itself indicates that specific there is no single point of master control,” while causation
molecular systems or organs are malfunctioning, thereby remains active within networks comprising components
impacting human health [28-30] . Nevertheless, when dealing devoid of DNA templates . Genes are activated through
[35]
with complex atherosclerotic processes and CVDs, it a variety of cellular mechanisms, and dynamic functional
becomes evident that these conditions are not attributable networks interrelate with the environment . Boi and
[36]
to single-gene diseases. Instead, a holistic approach is Lobo , in their exploration of the “geometry and
[37]
imperative for interpreting the progression from the phenomenology of the living,” argue that novel concepts are
atherosclerotic plaque to the clinical phenotypes of CVDs. required to disentangle multifactorial genetic, epigenetic,
These ailments are inherently multifaceted and progressive, and environmental causation, explaining the inherent
defying explanations through the lens of single-nucleotide complexity. SB helps to understand how a biological
polymorphisms or genome-wide case–control association system reacts to alterations in the microenvironment
studies (GWAS) [31,32] . Systems biology embodies a basic within cellular or tissue contexts, even affecting distant
holistic perspective, fostering an understanding of organs . The methodology of SB has, in a way, substituted
[38]
interactive and integrative disease networks that explore molecular biology by shifting focus toward more extensive
the entirety of clinical phenotypes and disease progression biological constructs such as networks and signaling
rather than focusing solely on isolated pathological information systems . Systems healthcare embodies a
[39]
components of the disease (Table 1). holistic approach to health, seamlessly integrating data
Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.1868

