A Complete Review on Epigenetic Biomarkers in MS

Abstract

The etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease is still mostly unknown. Various “omic” approaches, including genome-wide association studies, transcriptome analysis, exome sequencing, and epigenome studies are considered to be helpful for better understanding of MS progression and pathophysiology as well as more accurate determination of different MS subtypes. In recent years, the importance of epigenetics in MS pathogenesis, as well as other autoimmune diseases, has been surprisingly well received. Epigenetic therapy, which includes drugs that have the ability to influence the reversible and dynamic epigenetic characteristics, is also identified as a promising therapeutic tool in MS. This chapter will provide a summary of recent studies considering potential roles of epigenetic alterations as biomarkers in MS. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.