title: DNA methylation in T cells from idiopathic lupus and drug-induced lupus patients.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies and the damage of multiple organs. T lymphocytes play an important role in the autoimmune responses. Epigenetic factors have significant effects on T-cell functions by modulating its DNA methylation pattern. Gene-specific DNA hypomethylation happens in T cells in patients with active lupus. 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), and other demethylating agents like procainamide and hydralazine could induce lupus-like autoimmunity in vitro and in vivo. DNA hypomethylation in CD4+ T cell causes several gene activations and molecule overexpressions, and alters cellular function. Aberration DNA methylation in T cells might be responsible for idiopathic lupus and drug-induced lupus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Epigenetic Research Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, PR China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D019175:DNA Methylation; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011342:Procainamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D006830:Hydralazine; D011342:Procainamide