Epigenetic Regulation of Autophagy: A Path to the Control of Autoimmunity

Abstract

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Autoimmune diseases are a significant cause of debilitation and mortality globally and are in need of cost-effective therapeutics. Autophagy is a cellular pathway that facilitates immune modulation involved in both pathogen control and autoimmunity. Regulation is multifactorial and includes a number of epigenetic pathways which can involve modification of DNA-binding histones to induce autophagy-related mRNA synthesis or microRNA and decapping-associated mRNA degradation which results in autophagy suppression. Appreciation of epigenetic-based pathways involved in autophagy and autoimmunity may facilitate application of a burgeoning group of epigenetic pharmaceuticals to these important diseases.

Keywords

• histone
• epigenetics
• autoimmunity
• autophagy
• mRNA degradation
• histone deacetylase inhibitors