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DNA Methylation as a Future Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Marzena Ciechomska1, Leszek Roszkowski2, Wlodzimierz Maslinski3

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-635 Warsaw, Poland. m.m.ciechomska@gmail.com.

Cells
|August 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic changes like DNA methylation offer potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Targeting DNA methylation could improve RA diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies, offering new hope for this autoimmune disease.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing joint destruction and disability, affecting up to 1% of the global population.
  • Current RA treatments are insufficient, and the disease's underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, necessitating improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • Epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation, are reversible and present potential therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases like RA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current challenges in treating RA and other autoimmune diseases.
  • To explore the role of DNA methylation in RA pathogenesis and its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target.
  • To discuss the implications of targeting DNA methylation for improving patient outcomes in RA.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on rheumatoid arthritis, epigenetics, and DNA methylation.
  • Analysis of studies investigating DNA methylation patterns in RA development and progression.
  • Evaluation of the potential of circulating cell-free methylated DNA (ccfDNA) as a non-invasive biomarker.

Main Results:

  • Conflicting and insufficient evidence currently links DNA methylation directly to RA development.
  • Circulating cell-free methylated DNA (ccfDNA) shows promise as a non-invasive "liquid biopsy" for molecular marker assessment in diseases like RA.
  • Epigenetic therapies targeting DNA methylation could offer new avenues for managing autoimmunity and systemic inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting DNA methylation presents a promising strategy for improving diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the precise role of DNA methylation in RA and to develop effective epigenetic therapies.
  • The potential of ccfDNA as a non-invasive biomarker warrants further investigation for RA management.
Keywords:
DNA methylationautoimmunitybiomarkersepigeneticsrheumatoid arthritistherapy

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