Background and Aims

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a severe autoimmune disease caused by a combination of genetic, stochastic as well as environmental factors. A number of studies have demonstrated the influence of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of autoimmune diseases. Bregs are of particular importance for the control of autoimmune diseases – deficiency in Bregs can lead to pathological autoimmunity. As changes in the population of regulatory B-cell have been identified in patients with systemic lupus their number is a determining factor for the proper functioning of the immune system.

The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of overmethylation on the function and on the number of human regulatory B cells (Breg).

Methods

PBMCs from lupus patients were isolated and cultured in the presence of different concentrations of folic acid. The level of intracellular IL10 and the percentage of Breg were determined by flow cytometry.

Results

10 lupus patients and 10 healthy donors participated in the study. Two of the patients showed an increase in the IL10 producing Bregs after incubation with folic acid. No differences were observed in the samples of healthy volunteers.

Conclusions

A number of scientific studies confirm the involvement of epigenetic changes in the etiology of systemic lupus. Numerous scientific developments point to the role folic acid as the main modulator of gene expression. Modulation of development of systemic lupus by epigenetic pathways would be a novel scientific approach for modulation of genetic defects at molecular level.