title: DNA methylation and primary immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: DNA methylation is a heritable, stable, and also reversible way of DNA modification; it can regulate gene expression without changing the nucleotide sequences. Because it takes part in regulation of immune responses, the loss of methylation homeostasis in immune cells will result in autoimmune disease by inducing aberrant gene expression. Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disease with many immune deficiencies. Recently, it was well documented that abnormal DNA methylation is also involved in the etiology of ITP. In this review, we elucidate the role of DNA methylation in autoimmune diseases by summarizing the DNA methylation-sensitive genes and the relationship between DNA methylation and ITP.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, PR China.
authors.forename: Huiyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Renchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*