Epigenetic mechanisms in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

The etiology of multiple sclerosis remains largely unknown.It has a complex pathogenesis and likely a multifactorial etiology.The current paradigm for understanding its development is that MS is triggered by the exposure to certain environmental factors, particularly, viruses in genetically-susceptible individuals.Although both genetic and environmental components significantly contribute to disease susceptibility, their effects on the immune response could be mediated by changes in epigenetic regulation.Molecular mechanisms through which the impact of the environmental factors is translated into the changes in gene expression are represented by DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and noncoding RNAs.These mechanisms are regulated by tissue selective and cell specific enzymes, while at the same time they regulate the gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence.It opens new possibilities in studying the relationship between the genes and environmental factors in multiple sclerosis.This article will review the current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms in multiple sclerosis.