Epigenetics of autoimmune disorders (original) (raw)

Epigenetics of autoimmune disorders is the role that epigenetics (heritable changes that do not involve alterations in DNA sequences) play in autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disorders are a diverse class of diseases that share a common origin. These diseases originate when the immune system becomes dysregulated and mistakenly attacks healthy tissue rather than foreign invaders. These diseases are classified as either local or systemic based upon whether they affect a single body system or if they cause systemic damage.