Autoimmunity and the power of epigenetics

In our first article, we began a discussion of autoimmune conditions, which are occurring at alarming rates in the United States. When we talk about autoimmunity, it helps to draw a clear line between two words that get used interchangeably: genetics and epigenetics.

Genetics vs. epigenetics

Genetics is the study of genes — the basic physical units of heredity, the traits passed from one generation to the next. In terms of disease, we’re usually looking at genetic susceptibility. If a parent has Hashimoto’s and you’re showing thyroid symptoms, common sense says to get your thyroid checked given your family history.

But waiting around to see whether you’ll develop an autoimmune condition isn’t a very empowering perspective — and thankfully, it isn’t how the body works. Much of the power over your health is in your control. That’s where epigenetics comes in.

Epigenetics is the study of changes caused by shifts in gene expression — not changes to the original genetic code. Gene expression is the process that takes the instructions in your DNA and turns them into a functional product, like a protein. It can act as an on/off switch, and it can raise or lower how much of a protein is made.¹ The result is a phenotype — an observable trait that comes from your genes interacting with your environment. Height, eye color, and hair color are phenotypes; in autoimmunity, a clinical phenotype might be the presentation of a disease.

Factors that influence gene expression

Your body will always try to express genes in the best way possible. So how do we help it along? Here are some of the biggest levers — the ones we work on in practice.

• Stress. Stress can cause DNA modifications in the brain that may lead to neurological issues,⁴ and stress in utero or early childhood can shape health for life.⁵ Research links stress specifically to autoimmune conditions⁶ — but there’s good news too: preliminary studies suggest meditation may downregulate epigenetic pathways tied to depression, inflammation, and aging.⁷
• Toxins. Various chemical exposures are associated with cancers, mental-health disorders,⁸ and autoimmune conditions.⁹ Control what you can: eat organic where possible, choose non-toxic household and cosmetic products, and invest in a good water filter.
• Smoking. Higher smoking-related gene expression is associated with poorer cognitive function, brain integrity, and physical and psychosocial health,¹⁰ and prenatal tobacco exposure raises DNA methylation markers that may signal autoimmune conditions.¹¹
• Alcohol. Alcohol changes gene expression in the brain — changes likely behind dependence, tolerance, and craving, and potentially more serious harm.¹² The link between alcohol and autoimmunity is becoming clearer, too.¹³
• Infections. Infections can initiate autoimmunity — a strep infection, for example, can trigger an autoimmune response through cellular mimicry.¹⁴ In our practice we always look for underlying infections that may be feeding a disease process.
• Gut health. The gut shapes immune development and response.¹⁵ Researchers found the bacterium E. gallinarum can compromise the intestinal lining and trigger autoimmunity in other organs — and controlling it improved autoimmunity in mice.¹⁶ (More on this in a tangled mess.)
• Blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is autoimmune, and researchers are increasingly linking type 2 to autoimmune reactivity.¹⁷ There’s also evidence that high sugar intake can worsen autoimmune disease, and a low-sugar diet may help treat or prevent conditions like Crohn’s or MS.¹⁸
• Inflammation. Inflammation is a classic sign of autoimmune disease, and reducing it is a major treatment goal.¹⁹ Controlling it through diet, stress management, and sleep matters for both prevention and treatment. (See chronic inflammation.)