Targeting Epigenetics in the Development of New Diagnostic Applications-Lessons from Autoimmune Diseases

Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, account for a highly sophisticated regulatory system that is fundamental to the regulation of many cellular processes, including gene and microRNA expression, DNA-protein interactions, suppression of transposable element mobility, cellular differentiation, embryogenesis, X-chromosome inactivation, and genomic imprinting. Extensive data has shown that epigenetic changes are associated with multiple human diseases. In the context of autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS), evidence suggests that epigenetic changes may in fact play a causal role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. Understanding the epigenetics of autoimmune diseases may provide insights into clinical applications implicated in diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers and the prediction of drug responses, as well as new therapeutic interventions that may modulate disease-related epigenetic alterations and thereby improve patient outcomes.