Epigenetic Regulation (Including Micro-RNAs, DNA Methylation and Histone Modifications) of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

The inflammatory reaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is controlled by major epigenetic modifications that modulate the phenotype of synovial and immune cells. The aim of this work was to perform a systematic review focusing on miR expression, DNA methylation and histone modifications in RA. We demonstrated that, in human samples, the expressions of miR-155, miR-146a and miR-150 were significantly decreased while the expression of miR-410-3p was significantly increased in the RA group. Moreover, miR-146a significantly decreased pro-autoimmune IL-17 cytokine expression in RA. In a murine model, miR-34a inhibition can ameliorate the arthritis score. However, this evidence remain critically insufficient to support current therapeutic applications in RA patients.

Automated summary

The expression of miR-155, miR-146a, and miR-150 is significantly decreased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while miR-410-3p expression is significantly increased. miR-146a can significantly reduce the expression of the pro-autoimmune IL-17 cytokine in RA, and inhibiting miR-34a can improve arthritis scores in a murine model. However, the evidence is not enough to support current therapeutic applications in RA patients.