DNA methylation: a promising landscape for immune system-related diseases

During hematopoiesis, a unique hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) from the bone marrow gives rise to a subset of mature blood cells that directs all the immune responses. Recent studies have shown that this well-defined, hierarchical process is regulated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. Changes in the D...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in genetics 2012-10, Vol.28 (10), p.506-514
Main Authors: Suarez-Alvarez, Beatriz, Rodriguez, Ramon M, Fraga, Mario F, López-Larrea, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
autoimmunity
Blood cells
Bone marrow
Cell Differentiation
Differentiation
DNA Methylation
DNA Modification Methylases - metabolism
DNMTs
epigenetics
hematopoiesis
Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology
Hematopoietic Stem Cells - immunology
Hemopoiesis
Humans
Immune response
Immune System Diseases - genetics
Immune System Diseases - metabolism
Landscape
Medical Education
Plasticity
Reviews
Stem cells
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Summary:During hematopoiesis, a unique hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) from the bone marrow gives rise to a subset of mature blood cells that directs all the immune responses. Recent studies have shown that this well-defined, hierarchical process is regulated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. Changes in the DNA methylation profile have a critical role in the division of these stem cells into the myeloid and lymphoid lineages and in the establishment of a specific phenotype and functionality in each terminally differentiated cell type. In this review, we describe how the DNA methylation patterns are modified during hematopoietic differentiation and what their role is in cell plasticity and immune function. An in-depth knowledge of these epigenetic mechanisms will help clarify how cell type-specific gene programs are established, and how they can be leveraged in the development of novel strategies for treating immune system-related pathologies.
ISSN:0168-9525
DOI:10.1016/j.tig.2012.06.005