title: MicroRNAs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
abstract: The etiology of autoimmune diseases remains largely unknown. In recent years, besides genetic factors, several studies proposed that the epigenome may hold the key to a better understanding of autoimmunity initiation and perpetuation. More specifically epigenetic regulatory mechanisms comprise DNA methylation, a variety of histone modifications, and microRNA (miRNA) activity, all of which act upon gene and protein expression levels. In particular it is well known that epigenetic mechanisms are important for controlling the pattern of gene expression during development, the cell cycle, and the response to biological or environmental changes. In the present review a description of the most frequent epigenetic deregulations, in particular the role of miRNAs, in rheumatic autoimmune disorders will be investigated.
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Reumatologia, Dipartimento Medicina Clinica e Scienze Immunologiche, Università di Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balistreri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannitti
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002453:Cell Cycle; D060966:Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger