Smoking and DNA methylation: Correlation of methylation with smoking behavior and association with diseases and fetus development following prenatal exposure

Among epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation has been widely studied with respect to many environmental factors. Smoking is a common factor which affects both global and gene-specific DNA methylation. It is supported that smoking directly affects DNA methylation, and these effects contribute to the development and progression of various diseases, such as cancer, lung and cardiovascular diseases and male infertility. In addition, prenatal smoking influences the normal development of the fetus via DNA methylation changes. The DNA methylation profile and its smoking-induced alterations helps to distinguish current from former smokers and non-smokers and can be used to predict the risk for the development of a disease. This review summarizes the DNA methylation changes induced by smoking, their correlation with smoking behavior and their association with various diseases and fetus development.