title: Epigenetics of autoimmune diabetes.
abstract: Classical genetic studies established a link between Type 1 diabetes, a common childhood autoimmune disease and genes that encode MHC antigens and several immune-related determinants. The mechanisms by which these genes contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of Type 1 diabetes remain enigmatic. Emerging data indicate a role for epigenetic mechanisms involving hyperacetylation of histones in the differential gene expression and amelioration of autoimmune diabetes in a mouse model. In this article the implications of these and other epigenetic mechanisms including ncRNA-mediated gene regulation in the abrogation of autoimmune diabetes are discussed. Concerted efforts to decipher the epigenetics of Type 1 diabetes may provide novel perspectives on autoimmune diabetogenesis.
authors: Deptartment of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. anue2468@uic.edu
authors: Sundararajan
authors: S
authors: Jayaraman
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated