The Effect of DNMTs and MBPs on Hypomethylation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
November 2008
in “
Journal of Dermatological Science
”
TLDR Certain proteins involved in DNA modification may affect the genetic changes in systemic lupus erythematosus and could indicate the disease's activity.
The study, which included 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 21 healthy controls, found that DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and methyl cytosine-binding proteins (MBPs) may play a role in the epigenetic changes seen in SLE. Specifically, transcription levels of DNMT-1 were significantly lower in patients with both active and relieved SLE compared to controls, while levels of MBD-2 and LFA-1 were significantly higher in active SLE patients than in those with relieved SLE and controls. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the transcription levels of LFA-1 and MBD-2 with the SLE disease activity index (SLE-DAI). The study concluded that the altered expression of DNMTs and MBPs, particularly the MBD-2/DNMT-1 ratio, might be involved in the hypomethylation process and could indicate clinical activity in SLE.
