RT Journal Article
T1 Epigenetic Variability in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What We Learned from Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Studies.
A1 Teruel, Maria
A1 Sawalha, Amr H
K1 Autoimmune diseases
K1 Environmental
K1 Epigenetics
K1 Gene expression regulation
K1 Interferon signature
K1 Lupus
K1 Methylation
K1 SLE
K1 Susceptibility
K1 T cells
AB DNA methylation has emerged as an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we describe the DNA methylation patterns identified in SLE and how these epigenetic changes can influence disease susceptibility, clinical heterogeneity, and disease flares. Several genome-wide DNA methylation studies have been recently completed in SLE. Important observations include robust demethylation of interferon-regulated genes, which is consistent across all cell types studied to date, and is independent of disease activity. This interferon epigenetic signature was shown to precede interferon transcription signature in SLE, suggesting it might be an early event in the disease process. Recent studies also revealed DNA methylation changes specific for renal and skin involvement in SLE, providing a proof of principle for a value of DNA methylation studies in exploring mechanisms of specific disease manifestations, and potentially as prognostic biomarkers. Inherited ethnicity-specific DNA methylation patterns have also been shown to possibly contribute to differences in SLE susceptibility between populations. Finally, a recent study revealed that DNA methylation levels at IFI44L can accurately distinguish SLE patients from healthy controls, and from patients with other autoimmune diseases, promising to be the first epigenetic diagnostic marker for SLE. Genome-wide DNA methylation studies in SLE have provided novel insights into disease pathogenesis, clinical heterogeneity, and disease flares. Further studies promise to reveal novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for SLE.
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/11167
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/11167
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 14, 2025