DNA Methylation and Complex Human Disease reviews the possibilities of methyl-group-based epigenetic biomarkers of major diseases, tailored epigenetic therapies, and the future uses of high-throughput methylome technologies. . This volume includes many pertinent advances in disease-bearing research, including obesity, type II diabetes, schizophrenia and autoimmunity. DNA methylation is also discussed as a plasma and serum test for non-invasive screening, diagnostic and prognostic tests, as compared to biopsy-driven gene expression analysis, factors which have led to the use of DNA methylation as a potential tool for determining cancer risk, and diagnosis between benign and malignant disease. Therapies are at the heart of this volume and the possibilities of DNA demethylation. In cancer, unlike genetic mutations, DNA methylation and histone modifications are reversible and thus have shown great potential in the race for effective treatments. Indeed both demethylating agents are currently used in clinical practice for myelodysplastic syndrome and cutaneous T cell lymphoma. However, the situation might be completely different in non-neoplastic disease, where it could be beneficial to reverse DNA demethylation, for example in autoimmune diseases. Thus, the possibility to use methyl donors will be discussed. . In the concluding part of the book, the authors present the importance of high-throughput methylome analysis, not only in cancer, but also in non-neoplastic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

1. DNA methylation - Introduction2. DNA methylation and epigenetics biomarkers in cancer3. DNA methylation and epigenetic biomarkers in non-neoplastic diseases4. DNA methylation and environmental factors5. DNA methylation and epidemiology6. DNA methylation and viral infections7. DNA methylation and cancer8. DNA methylation in breast and ovarian carcinoma9. DNA methylation in tumorous multi-drug resistance10. DNA methylation and endocrinology11. DNA methylation in metabolic diseases (obesity, type II diabetes)12. DNA methylation in pituitary diseases13. DNA methylation and development14. DNA methylation in growth retardation15. DNA methylation in cardiology16. DNA methylation and neurology17. DNA methylation in psychiatric diseases (schizophrenia, alcohol and drug abuses)18. DNA methylation in neurodegenerative diseases19. DNA methylation and autoimmunity20. DNA methylation in lymphocyte development21. DNA methylation in stem cell diseases22. DNA methylation and rheumatology - introduction23. DNA methylation in synovial fibroblasts24. DNA methylation in osteoporosis25. Epigenetic therapies26. Demethylation agents (5-azacytidine)27. Methyl donors (s-adenoyl methionine)28. Methylome analysis of complex diseases29. Methylome analysis in cancer30. Methylome analysis in non-neoplastic disease31. Outlook