Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) arises from a complex interplay of genetic and epigenetic processes. In a recent study using the pristane-induced mouse model of SLE, researchers investigated the effects of methyl-supplemented nutrition on the disease’s development. The findings showed reduced anti-dsDNA antibody and proteinuria levels, improved cytokine modulation, and protected renal structures in treated mice. Additionally, an increase in DNA methylation of mouse B lymphocytes was observed, suggesting that methyl-containing micronutrients have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on cell proliferation and gene expression.
The study highlights the critical role of methylation processes in environmentally triggered lupus and underscores the potential of nutrition as an epigenetic factor influencing disease progression. Methyl-containing micronutrients, which help maintain physiological DNA methylation levels, could serve as novel therapeutic agents for SLE. These findings point to the promising therapeutic outcomes of targeting epigenetic mechanisms through dietary interventions.
Reference: Bradyanova S, Manoylov I, Boneva G, et al. Methyl-supplemented nutrition delays the development of autoimmune disease in pristane-induced murine lupus. Immunology. 2024 Jun;172(2):269-278. doi: 10.1111/imm.13774. Epub 2024 Mar 2. PMID: 38430118.
