Therapeutic effect of RAS inhibitors on epigenetic changes in life-style related diseases

Recently emerging evidence has shown that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in initiation and progression of life-style related diseases, including hypertension. In this article, we reviewed therapeutic effect of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors on epigenetic changes in the disease states. We have recently reported that transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 4(KLF4) is expressed in kidney podocytes and modulates podocyte phenotype by gene-selective epigenetic control, and that the effect of RAS inhibitors is mediated by epigenetic modulation through KLF4 in part. It is suggested that the 'memory' or 'legacy' effect of RAS inhibitors previously reported in human studies may be partly due to the epigenetic modulation by these agents, and further studies are necessary for investigation of new therapeutic target.