Epigenetic regulation of the immune system in health and disease.
Tissue Antigens
; 76(6): 431-9, 2010 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21058938
ABSTRACT
Epigenetics comprises various mechanisms that mold chromatin structures and regulate gene expression with stability, thus defining cell identity and function and adapting cells to environmental changes. Alteration of these mechanisms contributes to the inception of various pathological conditions. Given the complexity of the immune system, one would predict that a higher-order, supragenetic regulation is indispensable for generation of its constituents and control of its functions. Here, we summarize various aspects of immune system physiology and pathology in which epigenetic pathways have been implicated. Increasing knowledge in this field, together with the development of specific tools with which to manipulate epigenetic pathways, might form a basis for new strategies of immune function modulation, both to optimize immune therapies for infections or cancer and to control immune alterations in aging or autoimmunity.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Autoimunidade
/
Epigênese Genética
/
Doenças do Sistema Imunitário
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Infecções
/
Neoplasias
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Tissue Antigens
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha