title: Transmethylation in immunity and autoimmunity.
abstract: The activation of immune cells is mediated by a network of signaling proteins that can undergo post-translational modifications critical for their activity. Methylation of nucleic acids or proteins can have major effects on gene expression as well as protein repertoire diversity and function. Emerging data indicate that indeed many immunologic functions, particularly those of T cells, including thymic education, differentiation and effector function are highly dependent on methylation events. The critical role of methylation in immunocyte biology is further documented by evidence that autoimmune phenomena may be curtailed by methylation inhibitors. Additionally, epigenetic alterations imprinted by methylation can also exert effects on normal and abnormal immune responses. Further work in defining methylation effects in the immune system is likely to lead to a more detailed understanding of the immune system and may point to the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Immunology & Microbial Science, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. blawson@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eleftheriadis
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Quintial
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baccala
authors.forename: Dwight H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Argyrios N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Theofilopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D008745:Methylation; D018448:Models, Immunological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism