Evidence for impaired T cell DNA methylation in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
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.
Richardson
B
B
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Scheinbart
L
L
Strahler
J
J
Gross
L
L
Hanash
S
S
Johnson
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D004247:DNA; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases