EPIGENETIC ASPECTS IN LIVER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Even after decades of intensive researches and studies, Autoimmune Diseases etiology still remains elusive. Inflammation and tissue damage are common denominators of autoimmune/inflammatory conditions. Much of the research has focused on the discovery of genes from genome-wide association studies that might enhance susceptibility. Despite the identification of several hundred loci linked to various Autoimmune Diseases, the functional implications as to how these genomic linkages promote the loss of immune tolerance and autoimmunity remain unclear. Epigenetic modifications have been demonstrated to be strictly involved in the regulation of signaling molecules and receptors in autoimmune/inflammatory conditions, thusly contributing to inflammatory phenotypes and disease expression. Therefor Genetic and Epigenetic mechanisms together offer a better understanding of a disease onset and pathophysiology. Genetic and Epigenetic studies have shed some more light on Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Autoimmune Hepatitis etiology and pathophysiology, for that contributing into some new insights in order to find a better treatment strategy for these patients.