TITLE:
Emerging Roles of DNA Methylation and Non-Coding RNAs in Arsenic Toxicity
AUTHORS:
Jiamin Yuan, Jiao Dai, Rongxian Li, Zuoshun He, Shiyan Gu
KEYWORDS:
Arsenic Toxicity, DNA Methylation, lncRNAs, miRNAs, circRNAs
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Arsenic and related derivatives are pervasive metalloid contaminants in the environment, capable of infiltrating the biosphere via air, water, and soil. Crops and their derivatives are susceptible to contamination, which is conveyed to the human body via the food chain. Furthermore, arsenic can be directly inhaled or ingested through the respiratory and digestive tracts. Consequently, food safety concerns related to arsenic and its constituents, along with the associated health risks, have garnered heightened scrutiny. Exposure to arsenic can result in both acute and chronic toxicity, inflicting harm on various organs and systems. Numerous studies have demonstrated that arsenic and its compounds contribute to arsenic poisoning via DNA methylation and the modulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), resulting in the onset and progression of numerous disorders. This review will elucidate the mechanisms of DNA methylation, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in relation to arsenic toxicity.