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Epigenetics in rheumatic diseases
Pediatric Rheumatology volume 12, Article number: I12 (2014)
With enormous speed novel data are emerging about regulating the expression of the genetically encoded information [1]. This highly complex regulatory network called epigenetics includes acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation and non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), such as miRNA and lncRNAs. Our laboratory is addressing over the past decade inflammatory rheumatic diseases [2], like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), AS, SSc and pulmonary hypertension and thereby searching for the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines [3, 4], novel diagnostic signatures and new therapeutic targets. In this regard, DNA demethylation of RA synovial cells can be modulated by targeting specific enzymes [5]. Also, miRNA signatures for new response markers are in development [6].
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References
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Gay S, Wilson AG: The emerging role of epigenetics in rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology. 2013, (Epub ahead of print)
Brock M: MicroRNA-18a enhances the IL-6 mediated production of the acute-phase proteins fibrinogen and haptoglobin in human hepatocytes. J Biol Chem. 2011, 286: 40142-50.
Trenkmann M, Brock M, Gay RE, Michel BA, Gay S, Huber LC: The TNFα-induced miR-18a activates rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts through a feedback loop in NF-κB signaling. Arthritis Rheum. 2013, 65: 916-27.
Neidhart M, Karouzakis E, Jüngel A, Gay RE, Gay S: Inhibition of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT1) activity - a new therapeutical concept in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014, [Epub ahead of print]
Filková M: Association of circulating miR-223 and miR-16 with disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013, (Epub ahead of print)
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Gay, S. Epigenetics in rheumatic diseases. Pediatr Rheumatol 12 (Suppl 1), I12 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1546-0096-12-S1-I12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1546-0096-12-S1-I12