Epigenetics changes associated to environmental triggers in autoimmunity

• Published in: Autoimmunity (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Cañas, Carlos A., Cañas, Felipe, Bonilla-Abadía, Fabio, Ospina, Fabio E., Tobón, Gabriel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02-01-2016
• Subjects: Autoantibodies - genetics; Autoantigens - genetics; Autoimmunity - genetics; Chromatin - chemistry; Chromatin - immunology; Chromatin modification; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic - immunology; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Histones - genetics; Histones - immunology; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; RNA interference; RNA Interference - immunology; Signal Transduction; systemic lupus erythematous; UV light; DNA methylation; RNA interference; systemic lupus erythematous; UV light; Chromatin modification
• ISSN: 0891-6934; 1607-842X
• DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2015.1086996

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are chronic conditions initiated by the loss of immunological tolerance to self-antigens and represent a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect specific target organs or multiple organs in different systems. While the pathogenesis of AID remains unclear, its aetiology is multifunctional and includes a combination of genetic, epigenetic, immunological and environmental factors. In AIDs, several epigenetic mechanisms are defective including DNA demethylation, abnormal chromatin positioning associated with autoantibody production and abnormalities in the expression of RNA interference (RNAi). It is known that environmental factors may interfere with DNA methylation and histone modifications, however, little is known about epigenetic changes derived of regulation of RNAi. An approach to the known environmental factors and the mechanisms that alter the epigenetic regulation in AIDs (with emphasis in systemic lupus erythematosus, the prototype of systemic AID) are showed in this review.