Title |
The Role of Epigenetics in Aging and Autoimmunity
|
---|---|
Published in |
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, August 2009
|
DOI | 10.1007/s12016-009-8169-3 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Annabelle Grolleau-Julius, Donna Ray, Raymond L. Yung |
Abstract |
The decline in immunocompetence with age is accompanied by the increase in the incidence of autoimmune diseases. Aging of the immune system, or immunosenescence, is characterized by a decline of both T and B cell function, and paradoxically the presence of low-grade chronic inflammation. There is growing evidence that epigenetics, the study of inherited changes in gene expression that are not encoded by the DNA sequence itself, changes with aging. Interestingly, emerging evidence suggests a key role for epigenetics in human pathologies, including inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. Here, we will review the potential mechanisms that contribute to the increase in autoimmune responses in aging. In particular, we will discuss how epigenetic alterations, especially DNA methylation and histone acetylation, are accumulated during aging and how these events contribute to autoimmunity risk. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Germany | 5 | 4% |
United States | 3 | 2% |
Japan | 2 | 2% |
Denmark | 1 | <1% |
Italy | 1 | <1% |
Canada | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 117 | 89% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 27 | 21% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 21 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 19 | 15% |
Student > Master | 13 | 10% |
Other | 8 | 6% |
Other | 30 | 23% |
Unknown | 13 | 10% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 41 | 31% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 24 | 18% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 23 | 18% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 5 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 5 | 4% |
Other | 14 | 11% |
Unknown | 19 | 15% |