Open AccessEpigenetic determinants in rheumatoid arthritis: the influence of DNA methylation and histone modifications
Author(s) -
Bogdan Kolarz,
Maria Majdan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
postępy higieny i medycyny doświadczalnej
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1732-2693
pISSN - 0032-5449
DOI - 10.5604/01.3001.0010.7478
Subject(s) - epigenetics , histone , dna methylation , histone acetyltransferases , histone methyltransferase , cancer epigenetics , biology , histone methylation , histone code , genetics , epigenomics , dna , gene , gene expression , nucleosome
Epigenetics is a field of science which describes external and environmental modifications to DNA without altering their primary sequences of nucleotides. Contrary to genetic changes, epigenetic modifications are reversible. The epigenetic changes appear as a result of the influence of external factors, such as diet or stress. Epigenetic mechanisms alter the accessibility of DNA by methylation of DNA or post-translational modifications of histones (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitinqation). The extent of DNA methylation depends on the balance between DNA methyltransferases and demethylases. The main histone modifications are stimulated by K-acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases, K-metyltransferases and K-demethylases. There is proof that environmental modifications of this enzymes regulate immunological processes including autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this workwe present epigenetic mechanisms involved in RA pathogenesis and a range of research presentingthe possible impact of its modification in RA patients