Research progress on epigenetic regulation-based mechanistic studies of Chinese herbal medicines in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Epigenetic modifications represent an important mechanism underlying regulation of gene expression that enables human body to adapt to the changing environment. Research methods of epigenetic modifications are a frontier area for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) has been one of the difficulties in both clinical and basic-research fields of autoimmune diseases. Hie etiology of RA remains elusive, and its pathogenesis involves complex immune and inflammatory pathways. Clinically ideal therapeutic approaches are still lacking for treatment of RA. Recent studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicine and bioactive components there of potentially target ep-igenetic modifications in the treatment of RA. In order to provide new research ideas for therapeutic interventions and mechanistic studies of RA, we here reviewed and summarized literature on the epigenetic mechanism underlying the generation and development of RA and therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine in RA that involve targeting epigenetic modifications.