Autoimmunity and the Power of Epigenetics
In our previous article, we began a discussion of autoimmune conditions, which are occurring at alarming rates in the United States. When having a discussion about autoimmunity, it’s important that we differentiate between genetics and epigenetics.
Genetics is the study of genes.
Genes are the basic physical units of heredity, which are the physical or mental characteristics that are passed on genetically from one generation to the next. When we talk about genetics in terms of disease processes, we are often looking at genetic susceptibility of one disease process or another. If a parent has Hashimoto’s disease, and you are exhibiting symptoms of a thyroid condition, common sense would tell us that it’s important to have your thyroid checked out given your family history.
However, waiting around to see whether or not you develop an autoimmune condition given your family history doesn’t seem like a very empowering perspective. And thankfully, we know this isn’t how the body works. Much of the power over your health is in your control. This where epigenetics comes into play.
Epigenetics is the study of changes in an organism that are caused by changes in gene expression- NOT changes to the original genetic code.
Gene expression is the process that takes the instructions in our DNA and turns them into a functional product, like a protein. Gene expression can act as an on or off switch for making proteins. It can also increase or decrease the amount of proteins made (1). This process results in a phenotype, which is an observable characteristic of an individual that results from the interaction of its genes with its environment. A phenotype could be a person’s height, eye color, or hair color. In the context of autoimmune discussions, a clinical phenotype might be the presentation of a disease.
While you can’t change the genes you have, you DO have much control over the way your genes are expressed. Therefore, epigenetics is your friend!
Research has found that both genes and environment can affect disease processes, and they do so not only separately, but in their interaction with each other (2). Their interactions will result in gene expression, which can have a profound negative or positive influence on your health. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs are involved in the development of autoimmune conditions (3).
Factors that Influence Genetic Expression
Your body will always try to express genes in the best way possible. So how do we help our bodies in this process? Here are some factors that can influence genetic expression:
Stress: We know that stress can cause DNA modifications in the brain that may lead to neurological issues (4). We also know that stress in utero or early childhood development may have a profound impact on a person’s health and wellbeing (5). Recent research has also found a link specifically between stress and autoimmune conditions (6). However, some preliminary studies have shown that meditation may actually downregulate epigenetic pathways for depression, inflammation, and aging (7).
Toxins: Various chemical exposures have been associated with a number of different cancers, mental health disorders (8), and autoimmune conditions (9). Do your best to control toxin exposure by eating organic foods, using non-toxic household and cosmetic products, and investing in a high quality water filter.
Smoking: At this point, we all know about the dangers of smoking. A study that looked at gene expression associated with smoking and health outcomes showed that higher gene expression from smoking was associated with poorer cognitive function, structural brain integrity, physical health, and psychosocial health (10). Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke has also shown elevated DNA methylation markers, which may be a sign of autoimmune conditions (11).
Alcohol: Alcohol is able to change gene expression in the brain. These changes are likely responsible for symptoms of alcoholism, such as dependence, tolerance, and craving of alcohol. It also may be responsible for more serious consequences, such as brain damage (12). We are beginning to see the link between alcohol consumption and autoimmunity as well (13).
Infections: Infections can also play a major role in the initiation of an autoimmune condition. An example might be a streptococcal infection, which through cellular mimicry initiates an autoimmune response by which the body attacks its own tissues (14). In our practice, we always look for underlying infections that may be contributing to disease processes.
Gut health: Gut health also plays a role in the immune system development and response, which can affect autoimmune conditions (15). For example, researchers examined the role that the bacteria E. gallinarum played in autoimmune conditions. They found that this bacteria can compromise the intestinal lining and trigger an autoimmune response in other organs in the body. When they transplanted this bacteria to healthy mice, it triggered an autoimmune response. However, when this bacteria was controlled, they noticed much improvement in the mice with autoimmunity (16).
Blood sugar issues: We know that Type I diabetes is an autoimmune condition, and some researchers are also beginning to link Type 2 diabetes to varying levels of autoimmune reactivity (17). There is also some evidence that high sugar intake can worsen autoimmune disease and that a low sugar diet may help to treat or even prevent autoimmune conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or multiple sclerosis (18).
Inflammation: We know that a classic sign of autoimmune disease is inflammation and that a huge goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation. The specific inflammatory pathways of autoimmune disease are beginning to be researched (19). Controlling inflammation through such factors as diet, stress management, and sleep are important in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune disease.
As you can see, there are a number of health-promoting things you can do to control the way that your genes are expressed. You don’t have to accept that you were dealt a challenging genetic hand. You have the power to take ownership of your health, and we would love to support you through this journey.
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