Table 2 Epigenetic changes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Sjogren’s syndrome (SS)

SLE

↓ CD70, ↓ CD11a,

↓ CD40L, ↓ perforin

↓ T cell

↓ IFN signature [50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63]

↑ H3, H4 methylation

↑ H3, H4 acetylation [64,65,66,67]

↑ miR-21, ↑ miR-148a [68,69,70,71]

RA

↓ T cell

↑ Synoviocytes [79, 80]

↑ H3 acetylation [82,83,84,85,86,87,88]

↑ miR-146a, strong link between many microRNAs and DNA methylation [90,91,92,93]

SSc

↓ T cell

↓ Fibroblasts

↑ Wnt pathway genes [96,97,98, 102, 103]

Fibroblasts:↓ H3, H4 acetylation

[104, 107, 108]

↑ miR-29a, ↑ miR-196a [109,110,111,112,113,114]

SS

↓ Type-I IFN pathway genes

↓ T cells [115,116,117,118,119,120,121]

No large-scale analysis

↑ miR-146a [122]