title: Epigenetics of autoantigens: new opportunities for therapy of autoimmune diseases.
abstract: The field of epigenetics requires that traditional divisions between scientific disciplines give way to cross-fertilization of concepts and ideas from different areas of investigation. Such is the case with research in autoimmunity. Recent discoveries of stimuli that induce autoimmunity reveal that epigenetic marks of autoantigens are recognized by autoreactive B and T cell receptors. Thus, insights into the initiation of autoimmunity, its prevention and therapy will arise from understanding the biochemistry, cell biology and microbiology of autoantigen epigenetics. Here, we highlight potential benefits from the inhibition of a histone modifying enzyme and the administration of a phosphorylated, spliceosome-derived peptide, in the treatment of autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radic
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology and therapeutic chemistry/Laboratory of excellence MEDALIS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muller
keywords: Lupus; Lupuzor; U1-70; autoimmunity; clinical trial; deimination; histones; neutrophil extracellular traps; phosphorylation; post-translational modifications; spliceosome