Abnormal DNA methylation in CD4+ T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and dermatomyositis

Abstract

Reduced DNA methylation and abnormal expression of methylation-related genes in CD4+ T cells are associated with SLE and SSc.

Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells require DNA methyltransferase 1 expression to prevent development of lethal autoimmunity

“…40 Global reductions in T-cell DNA methylation are correlated with the development of autoimmunity, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and dermatomyositis. 41,42 There are also murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus that are induced by use of Dnmt1 inhibitors, 43 but the current model is the first known example of aggressive autoimmunity arising from precise genetic targeting of a single Dnmt enzyme.…”

Epigenetics in autoimmune disorders: Highlights of the 10th Sjögren's Syndrome Symposium

“…CD4+ T-cell DNA from patients with SSc is significantly hypomethylated relative to healthy controls, and the levels of DNMT1, MBD3, and MBD4 mRNAs are significantly decreased in SSc patients [19]. Furthermore, reduced expression of DNMT3a results in enhanced histone acetylation.…”

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling in Diabetogenic and Regulatory T Cells from NOD Mice

“…Based on these genome-wide analyses, our studies have found that Tpaths and Tregs have different methylation density distribution in their autosomes and chromosome X. These novel results suggest epigenetic differences may contribute to the functional differentiation/specification of Tpaths vs. Tregs [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43].…”