The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / The Latest on Epigenetics in Immune-Mediated Disease

The Latest on Epigenetics in Immune-Mediated Disease

March 19, 2019 • By Lara C. Pullen, PhD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Epigenetics Meets Rheumatology

Nan Shen, MD, PhD, director of Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, took the stage to speak about non-coding genes that account for most of the transcription of the genome. He described these non-coding sequences as quite complex and walked the audience through a (relatively) simple description. He explained the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the nucleus and cytoplasm have multiple functions, including epigenetic modification, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational regulation. They thus regulate gene expression at multiple levels by interacting with DNA, RNA and protein. Perhaps of most interest to rheumatologists, Dr. Shen stated, they are also critical for immune cell development, activation and function. They are likely to be especially important in rheumatology because several lncRNAs are dysregulated in rheumatic diseases.

You Might Also Like
  • Did Shiitake Mushrooms Induce Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy?
  • The Latest on Vaccinations, Leprosy & Lyme Disease
  • Rheuminations: Epigenetics May Help to Explain Why Some Get Rheumatic Disease
Explore This Issue
March 2019
Also By This Author
  • The Gut Microbiome Influences Postmenopausal Bone Loss

Dr. Shen and others have focused their efforts on identifying the lncRNAs relevant to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They have used several strategies, including data mining, to identify the lncRNAs involved in immune system regulation, those associated with disease activity, those differentially expressed between patients with lupus and healthy controls, and those located near genetic susceptibility loci. Their efforts have yielded an lncRNA stimulated by interferon that appears to be important in the pathophysiology of SLE.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Epigenetics & Psoriasis

Qianjin Lu, MD, director of the Institute of Dermatology at Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China, discussed the role of epigenetics in a mouse model of psoriasis. He noted the literature has documented monozygotic twins who are discordant for psoriasis.

Psoriasis is associated with inflammatory cell infiltration, increased cytokine production and hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Both genetic and environmental factors create the epigenetic profile of psoriasis, demonstrating that DNA methylation changes gene expression. Moreover, skin biopsies of patients with psoriasis reveal higher global DNA methylation, and researchers have now been able to use epigenome-wide association analysis to identify nine skin DNA methylation loci for psoriasis. In addition, high throughput data analysis has identified methylated genes from different clinical specimens of psoriasis patients. More detailed studies have revealed the DNA in skin lesions and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with psoriasis are hypermethylated and include abnormal histone modifications.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Non-coding microRNA (miRNA) also plays a role in the modulation of immunological mechanism of psoriasis. Dr. Lu’s group has found several key miRNAs, such as miRNA-210, are specifically overexpressed in psoriasis, whereas other known miRNAs are specifically downregulated in psoriasis. A closer examination of immune cells revealed miRNA-210 expression is elevated in CD4+ T cells, as well as in skin lesions from patients with psoriasis. Moreover, expression levels of miRNA-210 correlate with disease severity. The research by Dr. Lu and colleagues suggests miRNA-210 contributes to the altered balance between pathogenic Th1/Th17 cells and Th2 cells in patients with psoriasis and accelerates the development of disease. Their results thus detail a crucial role for miRNA-210 in the immune imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets in psoriasis and suggest a potential therapeutic approach.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Meeting Reports Tagged With: 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, epigenetics, epigenomeIssue: March 2019

You Might Also Like:
  • Did Shiitake Mushrooms Induce Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy?
  • The Latest on Vaccinations, Leprosy & Lyme Disease
  • Rheuminations: Epigenetics May Help to Explain Why Some Get Rheumatic Disease
  • FOCIS 2015: Metabolism May Affect Immune System’s Reaction to Disease

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.