Program Results

Introduction to the event

The Yushan scholar Dr. Moncef Zouali is specialized in autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis, pharmacogenomics, epigenetics, DNA methylation, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and B lymphocytes etc. The mechanisms underlying SLE pathogenesis are unclear, and previous research showed that SLE is related to environmental and genetic factors. Furthermore, the DNA of lupus patients is hypomethylated. DNA methylation, affects gene expression without changing gene sequence. The objective of Dr. Moncef Zouali's research is to correct DNA hypomethylation of lupus patients by several strategies.

In human studies, conditions of isolating B lymphocytes and activating them with ligands that mimic adaptive and innate immunity have been established. Currently, DNA methylation of these B lymphocytes is being analyzed. 

In mice, a lupus-like disease has been induced in experimental animals. Groups of mice have been treated orally with nanoparticles loaded with nutraceuticals known to have anti-inflammatory and hypermethylating activities. Disease progression is being followed by testing proteinuria, cytokine and autoantibody production.