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Hui L, Ziyue Z, Chao L, Bin Y, Aoyu L, Haijing W. Epigenetic Regulations in Autoimmunity and Cancer: from Basic Science to Translational Medicine. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2048980. [PMID: 36647268 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics, as a discipline that aims to explain the differential expression of phenotypes arising from the same gene sequence and the heritability of epigenetic expression, has received much attention in medicine. Epigenetic mechanisms are constantly being discovered, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs and m6A. The immune system mainly achieves an immune response through the differentiation and functional expression of immune cells, in which epigenetic modification will have an important impact. Because of immune infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy has become a research hotspot in tumor therapy. Epigenetics plays an important role in autoimmune diseases and cancers through immunology. An increasing number of drugs targeting epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and drug combinations, are being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of various cancers (including leukemia and osteosarcoma) and autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis). This review summarizes the progress of epigenetic regulation for cancers and autoimmune diseases to date, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Hui
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Ziyue
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Liu Chao
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Yu Bin
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Li Aoyu
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Wu Haijing
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
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Pan Y, Xu L, Huang H. Expression, functional mechanism and therapy application of long noncoding RNA in β-thalassemia. ZHONG NAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 47:252-257. [PMID: 35545416 PMCID: PMC10930521 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2022.210411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
β-thalassemia (β-thal) is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, its pathogenesis is extremely complex and there is no effective treatment at present. The birth of children with moderate and severe β-thal brings economic pressure to families, social medical and health services. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of noncoding protein transcripts with a length greater than 200 nucleotides, which is involved in a variety of biological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and chromosome variation and plays an important role in the epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation of genes. It has potential value in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of β-thal. LncRNA possesses the characteristics such as tissue specificity, cell specificity, developmental stage specificity, space-time specificity and disease specificity, and its complex interaction network has become a challenge to translate research results into clinical practice. Taking lncRNA as an entry point, in-depth understanding of the function of lncRNA in β-thal and explanation of its related regulatory mechanisms will provide theoretical basis for targeting treatment of β-thal, which can improve the diagnosis and treatment of β-thal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Pan
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital/Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou 350001.
- School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, China.
| | - Liangpu Xu
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital/Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou 350001
| | - Hailong Huang
- Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital/Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou 350001.
- School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, China.
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Hu C, Zhang K, Jiang F, Wang H, Shao Q. Epigenetic modifications in thymic epithelial cells: an evolutionary perspective for thymus atrophy. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:210. [PMID: 34819170 PMCID: PMC8612001 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01197-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The thymic microenvironment is mainly comprised of thymic epithelial cells, the cytokines, exosomes, surface molecules, and hormones from the cells, and plays a vital role in the development, differentiation, maturation and homeostasis of T lymphocytes. However, the thymus begins to degenerate as early as the second year of life and continues through aging in human beings, leading to a decreased output of naïve T cells, the limited TCR diversity and an expansion of monoclonal memory T cells in the periphery organs. These alternations will reduce the adaptive immune response to tumors and emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, also it is easier to suffer from autoimmune diseases in older people. In the context of global aging, it is important to investigate and clarify the causes and mechanisms of thymus involution. Main body Epigenetics include histone modification, DNA methylation, non-coding RNA effects, and chromatin remodeling. In this review, we discuss how senescent thymic epithelial cells determine and control age-related thymic atrophy, how this process is altered by epigenetic modification. How the thymus adipose influences the dysfunctions of the thymic epithelial cells, and the prospects of targeting thymic epithelial cells for the treatment of thymus atrophy. Conclusion Epigenetic modifications are emerging as key regulators in governing the development and senescence of thymic epithelial cells. It is beneficial to re-establish effective thymopoiesis, identify the potential therapeutic strategy and rejuvenate the immune function in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cexun Hu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Keyu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qixiang Shao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine of Jiangsu Province, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu College of Nursing, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Huai'an, 223002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Li W, Ma N, Yuwen T, Yu B, Zhou Y, Yao Y, Li Q, Chen X, Wan J, Zhang Y, Zhang W. Comprehensive analysis of circRNA expression profiles and circRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA networks in the development of mouse thymus. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:6340-6349. [PMID: 32307889 PMCID: PMC7294154 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus plays an irreplaceable role as a primary lymphoid organ. However, the complicate processes of its development and involution are incompletely understood. Accumulating evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs play key roles in the regulation of biological development. At present, the studies of the circRNA profiles and of circRNA-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in the thymus are still scarce. Here, deep-RNA sequencing was used to study the biological mechanisms underlying the development process (from 2-week-old to 6-week-old) and the recession process (from 6-week-old to 3-month-old) of the mouse thymus. It was found that 196 circRNAs, 233 miRNAs and 3807 mRNAs were significantly dysregulated. The circRNA-associated ceRNA networks were constructed in the mouse thymus, which were mainly involved in early embryonic development and the proliferation and division of T cells. Taken together, these results elucidated the regulatory roles of ceRNAs in the development and involution processes of the mouse thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Li
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nana Ma
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Yuwen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Yufei Yao
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Qi Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Xiaofan Chen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Wan
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.,Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
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