The epigenetics of autoimmunity. [Cell Mol Immunol. 2011] - PubMed result

Cell Mol Immunol. 2011 Jan 31. [Epub ahead of print]

The epigenetics of autoimmunity.
Meda F, Folci M, Baccarelli A, Selmi C.
1] Department of Medicine and Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy [2] Department of Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Abstract
The etiology of autoimmune diseases remains largely unknown. Concordance rates in monozygotic twins are lower than 50% while genome-wide association studies propose numerous significant associations representing only a minority of patients. These lines of evidence strongly support other complementary mechanisms involved in the regulation of genes expression ultimately causing overt autoimmunity. Alterations in the post-translational modification of histones and DNA methylation are the two major epigenetic mechanisms that may potentially cause a breakdown of immune tolerance and the perpetuation of autoimmune diseases. In recent years, several studies both in clinical settings and experimental models proposed that the epigenome may hold the key to a better understanding of autoimmunity initiation and perpetuation. More specifically, data support the impact of epigenetic changes in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases, in some cases based on mechanistical observations. We herein discuss what we currently know and what we expect will come in the next future. Ultimately, epigenetic treatments already being used in oncology may soon prove beneficial also in autoimmune diseases.Cellular & Molecular Immunology advance online publication, 31 January 2011; doi:10.1038/cmi.2010.78.

PMID: 21278766 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The epigenetics of autoimmunity. [Cell Mol Immunol. 2011] - PubMed result