Open AccessEvidence for impaired t cell dna methylation in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Richardson Bruce,
Scheinbart Lee,
Strahler John,
Gross Laura,
Hanash Samir,
Johnson Marcia
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780331109
Subject(s) - dna methylation , rheumatoid arthritis , immunology , autoimmune disease , medicine , dna , methylation , arthritis , lupus erythematosus , autoantibody , systemic lupus erythematosus , biology , disease , antibody , gene , genetics , gene expression
Procainamide and hydralazine inhibit T cell DNA methylation and induce autoreactivity in cloned CD4+ T cells. These drugs also induce an autoimmune syndrome, suggesting a possible relationship between DNA hypomethylation, T cell autoreactivity, and certain autoimmune diseases. To test this relationship, DNA methylation was studied in T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and was found to be impaired. These results support a relationship between DNA hypomethylation and some forms of autoimmune disease.