The epigenome bridges environmental factors and the genome, fine-tuning the process of gene transcription. Physiological programs, including the development, maturation and maintenance of cellular identity and function, are modulated by intricate epigenetic changes that encompass DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications and RNA processing. The collection of genome-wide DNA methylation data has recently shed new light into the potential contribution of epigenetics in pathophysiology, particularly in the field of immune system and host defense. The study of patients carrying mutations in genes encoding for molecules involved in the epigenetic machinery has allowed the identification and better characterization of environment-genome interactions via epigenetics as well as paving the way for the development of new potential therapeutic options. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the role of epigenetic modifications in the immune system and outline their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of inborn errors of immunity.
Since its outbreak in late December 2019 in Wuhan, COVID-19 pandemic has posed a therapeutic challenge for the world population, with a plenty of clinical pictures and a broad spectrum of severity of the manifestations. In spite of initial speculations on a direct role of primary or acquired immune deficiency in determining a worse disease outcome, recent studies have provided evidence that specific immune defects may either serve as an
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entailing this risk or may not be relevant enough to impact the host defense against the virus. Taken together, these observations may help unveil pathogenetic mechanisms of the infection and suggest new therapeutic strategies. Thus, in this review we summarize current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical manifestations with a special focus on children and patients presenting with congenital or acquired immune deficiency.
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