Epigenetic Modulation: Navigating Renal Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Renal diseases, including Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and transplant rejection, present major therapeutic challenges due to the limited efficacy of conventional treatments. While genetic background sets the stage, epigenetic modifications—such as DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications—act as the dynamic interface driving disease progression.Recent advances in renal pharmacology have identified these epigenetic regulators not just as markers of disease, but as actionable druggable targets. The field is rapidly moving toward precision medicine, where specific epigenetic inhibitors or modulators can halt fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, the translation of these findings into safe, effective clinical therapies requires a deeper understanding of pharmacodynamics and the development of targeted delivery systems to minimize off-target effects.The primary goal of this Research Topic is to bridge the gap between epigenetic mechanisms and novel pharmacological interventions. We aim to address the unmet needs in nephrology by exploring how genetic and cell-based pharmacology can modulate the renal epigenome to treat acute and chronic conditions.This collection seeks to move beyond descriptive studies of epigenetic changes. Instead, we focus on research that validates specific molecular targets for therapy, explores innovative biologics, and tests new delivery systems (such as nanomedicines) for epigenetic modifiers. By integrating molecular profiling with pharmacological research, we aim to advance the development of precision medicine strategies that consider individual variability in renal disease.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives that provide in-depth knowledge on the development and application of pharmacological approaches targeting the renal epigenome.Specific themes of interest include:• Target Validation: Pharmacological inhibition or activation of epigenetic enzymes (e.g., HATs, HDACs, DNMTs) to mitigate renal fibrosis and inflammation.• RNA Therapeutics: Advances in delivery systems for small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), miRNAs, or antisense oligonucleotides targeting epigenetic regulators.• Epigenome Editing: Utilization of CRISPR/Cas9 (e.g., dCas9-fused effectors) to precisely modulate gene expression in renal models.• Nanomedicine: Development of kidney-targeted nanocarriers for the delivery of "epidrugs" to reduce systemic toxicity.• Precision Medicine: Profiling epigenetic signatures to predict patient response to pharmacological treatments (pharmaco-epigenomics).• Cell-Based Therapy: The pharmacodynamics of cell-based therapies that exert renoprotection via epigenetic modulation of the microenvironment. Topic editors: Marta Ruiz-Ortega, Beatriz Suarez-Alvarez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77685/epigenetic-modulation-navigating-renal-disease-mechanisms-and-therapeutic-potential