Summary
This 2019 Nature Reviews Immunology narrative review by Zhang and Cao synthesises current understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodelling—regulate the expression of genes controlling innate immune responses to pathogenic challenge. The review integrates mechanistic evidence on how these epigenetic processes bridge detection of environmental pathogenic signals and the mobilisation of immune defence. As a major review in a leading immunology journal, it provides a conceptual framework for understanding epigenetic control of immunity, though direct applicability to agricultural or nutritional systems requires further translation research.
Regional applicability
While this immunological review is not directly oriented to agricultural or soil systems, understanding epigenetic regulation of infection responses has indirect relevance to UK food systems through implications for livestock immune competence, disease resistance in farming contexts, and potential links between nutritional status and epigenetic immune regulation. Direct application would require bridging research connecting farm-relevant pathogens and immune-modulating dietary or management practices.
Key measures
Epigenetic regulation patterns; gene expression of innate immune pathway components; DNA methylation and histone modification states
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling) regulate genes controlling pathogen recognition, inflammatory signalling, and antimicrobial defence during infection. The paper examines how these epigenetic processes translate environmental signals into immune function.
Topic tags
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