title: Epigenetics in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To briefly summarize some of the principles of epigenetics and assess their potential relevance for the disease pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). To review the results of recent IBD-related epigenetic studies, discuss main challenges as well as highlight the opportunities for future research in this field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence is accumulating for a major role of epigenetic mechanisms in the disease pathogenesis of several immune-mediated diseases. Recent findings indicate that epigenetics may mediate some of the effects of environment, genetic predisposition and intestinal microbiota on IBD pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epigenetics is a rapidly expanding and hugely promising area of research. At best, it may provide a unifying molecular mechanism to explain complex immune-mediated diseases such as IBD. Future research studies must be carefully designed, performed and analysed taking into account the basic principles of epigenetics in order to ensure the true potential of this field is realized in the understanding of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, HELIOS Children's Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Jenke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilbauer
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000276:immunology*; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology