title: Abnormal histone modification patterns in lupus CD4+ T cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate alterations in histone modifications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Global histone H3/H4 acetylation and H3K4/H3K9 methylation in CD4+ T cells from 20 SLE patients and 10 healthy control subjects were assayed using the EpiQuik global histone H3/H4 acetylation and H3K4/H3K9 methylation assay kits. mRNA levels of 12 members of 3 classes of chromatin modifier genes were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Global histone H3 and H4 hypoacetylation was observed in active lupus CD4+ T cells compared with controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.009, respectively). The degree of histone H3 acetylation correlated negatively with increased disease activity in lupus patients as measured by SLEDAI (r = -0.889, p = 0.044). We found global histone H3K9 hypomethylation in both active and inactive lupus CD4+ T cells, compared with controls (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). However, global levels of H3K4 methylation were not different between patients and controls. SIRT1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in active lupus CD4+ T cells compared with controls (p < 0.001), while mRNA levels of CREBBP, P300, HDAC2, HDAC7, SUV39H2, and EZH2 were significantly downregulated in patients with active lupus (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.01, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histone modifications appear abnormal in CD4+ T cells in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiangning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yongqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenzhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Guiying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006655:Histone Deacetylases