The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time
During life, the DNA of our cells is continuously exposed to external damaging processes. Despite the activity of various repair mechanisms, DNA damage eventually results in the accumulation of mutations in the genomes of our cells. Oncogenic mutations are at the root of carcinogenesis, and carcinog...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.760039/full |
| _version_ | 1819202968663097344 |
|---|---|
| author | Axel Rosendahl Huber Axel Rosendahl Huber Arne Van Hoeck Arne Van Hoeck Ruben Van Boxtel Ruben Van Boxtel |
| author_facet | Axel Rosendahl Huber Axel Rosendahl Huber Arne Van Hoeck Arne Van Hoeck Ruben Van Boxtel Ruben Van Boxtel |
| author_sort | Axel Rosendahl Huber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During life, the DNA of our cells is continuously exposed to external damaging processes. Despite the activity of various repair mechanisms, DNA damage eventually results in the accumulation of mutations in the genomes of our cells. Oncogenic mutations are at the root of carcinogenesis, and carcinogenic agents are often highly mutagenic. Over the past decade, whole genome sequencing data of healthy and tumor tissues have revealed how cells in our body gradually accumulate mutations because of exposure to various mutagenic processes. Dissection of mutation profiles based on the type and context specificities of the altered bases has revealed a variety of signatures that reflect past exposure to environmental mutagens, ranging from chemotherapeutic drugs to genotoxic gut bacteria. In this review, we discuss the latest knowledge on somatic mutation accumulation in human cells, and how environmental mutagenic factors further shape the mutation landscapes of tissues. In addition, not all carcinogenic agents induce mutations, which may point to alternative tumor-promoting mechanisms, such as altered clonal selection dynamics. In short, we provide an overview of how environmental factors induce mutations in the DNA of our healthy cells and how this contributes to carcinogenesis. A better understanding of how environmental mutagens shape the genomes of our cells can help to identify potential preventable causes of cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:12:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59378ae681d2459b9ab4352472d5a18f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:12:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-59378ae681d2459b9ab4352472d5a18f2022-12-21T18:00:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212021-10-011210.3389/fgene.2021.760039760039The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through TimeAxel Rosendahl Huber0Axel Rosendahl Huber1Arne Van Hoeck2Arne Van Hoeck3Ruben Van Boxtel4Ruben Van Boxtel5Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, NetherlandsOncode Institute, Utrecht, NetherlandsOncode Institute, Utrecht, NetherlandsCenter for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsPrincess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, NetherlandsOncode Institute, Utrecht, NetherlandsDuring life, the DNA of our cells is continuously exposed to external damaging processes. Despite the activity of various repair mechanisms, DNA damage eventually results in the accumulation of mutations in the genomes of our cells. Oncogenic mutations are at the root of carcinogenesis, and carcinogenic agents are often highly mutagenic. Over the past decade, whole genome sequencing data of healthy and tumor tissues have revealed how cells in our body gradually accumulate mutations because of exposure to various mutagenic processes. Dissection of mutation profiles based on the type and context specificities of the altered bases has revealed a variety of signatures that reflect past exposure to environmental mutagens, ranging from chemotherapeutic drugs to genotoxic gut bacteria. In this review, we discuss the latest knowledge on somatic mutation accumulation in human cells, and how environmental mutagenic factors further shape the mutation landscapes of tissues. In addition, not all carcinogenic agents induce mutations, which may point to alternative tumor-promoting mechanisms, such as altered clonal selection dynamics. In short, we provide an overview of how environmental factors induce mutations in the DNA of our healthy cells and how this contributes to carcinogenesis. A better understanding of how environmental mutagens shape the genomes of our cells can help to identify potential preventable causes of cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.760039/fullmutagensenvironmental carcinogensmutational signaturescancergenomics |
| spellingShingle | Axel Rosendahl Huber Axel Rosendahl Huber Arne Van Hoeck Arne Van Hoeck Ruben Van Boxtel Ruben Van Boxtel The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time Frontiers in Genetics mutagens environmental carcinogens mutational signatures cancer genomics |
| title | The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time |
| title_full | The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time |
| title_fullStr | The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time |
| title_short | The Mutagenic Impact of Environmental Exposures in Human Cells and Cancer: Imprints Through Time |
| title_sort | mutagenic impact of environmental exposures in human cells and cancer imprints through time |
| topic | mutagens environmental carcinogens mutational signatures cancer genomics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.760039/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT axelrosendahlhuber themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT axelrosendahlhuber themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT arnevanhoeck themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT arnevanhoeck themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT rubenvanboxtel themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT rubenvanboxtel themutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT axelrosendahlhuber mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT axelrosendahlhuber mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT arnevanhoeck mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT arnevanhoeck mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT rubenvanboxtel mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime AT rubenvanboxtel mutagenicimpactofenvironmentalexposuresinhumancellsandcancerimprintsthroughtime |