Abstract
The level of importance given to studies analyzing epigenetic changes in diseases, especially chronic diseases, has increased greatly in recent years. Epigenetic modifications are placed at the DNA and at histone tails and have substantial impact on the regulation of gene expression. Histone modifications enhance or suppress gene transcription, depending on the modification. While it is widely acknowledged that histone modifications are associated with active and repressed regulatory chromatin regions, it is still debated whether this association is truly causal. DNA methylation, in particular in promoter regions, leads to gene silencing. Interestingly, environmental influences can change epigenetic modifications, and these changes can be maintained after mitosis and possibly meiosis. In immune and stromal cells of people with rheumatic diseases, global DNA hypomethylation and hypomethylation/hypermethylation at specific promoters were found. Furthermore, various changes in histone modifications have been detected. This chapter provides an overview of relevant epigenetic modifications and epigenetic changes that have been identified in people with rheumatic diseases.
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