title: Epigenetic Regulation of Monocyte and Macrophage Function.
abstract: Monocytes and macrophages are key players in tissue homeostasis and immune responses. Epigenetic processes tightly regulate cellular functioning in health and disease. Recent Advances: Recent technical developments have allowed detailed characterizations of the transcriptional circuitry underlying monocyte and macrophage regulation. Upon differentiation and activation, enhancers are selected by lineage-determining and signal-dependent transcription factors. Enhancers are shown to be very dynamic and activation of these enhancers underlies the differences in gene transcription between monocytes and macrophages and their subtypes.
  
  
  
  It has been shown that epigenetic enzymes regulate the functioning of these cells and targeting of epigenetic enzymes has been proven to be a valuable tool to dampen inflammatory responses. We give a comprehensive overview of recent developments and understanding of the epigenetic pathways that control monocyte and macrophage function and of the epigenetic enzymes involved in monocyte and macrophage differentiation and activation.
  
  
  
  The key challenges in the upcoming years will be to study epigenetic changes in human disease and to better understand how epigenetic pathways control the inflammatory repertoire in disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 758-774.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Marten A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hoeksema
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Menno P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Winther
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology
keywords: epigenetics; macrophages; monocytes; transcription factors