The emerging role of epigenetics in human autoimmune disorders
Epigenetic pathways play a pivotal role in the development and function of the immune system. Over the last
decade, a growing body of studies has been published out seeking to explain a correlation between epigenetic
modifications and the development of autoimmune disorders. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation,
histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs, are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases mainly by
regulating gene expression. This paper reviews the importance of epigenetic alterations during the development of
the most prevalent human autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), Sjogren’s syndrome (SS), autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), and type 1 diabetes
(T1D), aiming to provide new insights in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and the possibility to develop
novel therapeutic approaches targeting the epigenome.