Abstract
DNA methylation of peripheral blood (PB) B cells of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) patient was investigated. B cell DNA methylation level and the methylation-regulatory genes mRNA from 34 wAIHA patients and 16 healthy controls (HCs) were detected. The correlation between B cell DNA methylation and clinical indicators was analyzed. The effects of IL-6 on the B cell DNA methylation were examined. B cell DNA methylation level and DNMT1 mRNA expression of hemolytic episode patients were lower than that in remission patients and HCs. B cell DNA methylation in glucocorticoid-resistant patients was low. The hemolytic degree, response and relapse rate were correlated with B cell DNA methylation. Serum IL-6 concentration in hemolytic episode patients was higher than that in HCs and IL-6 inhibited DNMT1 expression in B cell of patients. IL-6 may inhibit the B cell DNA methylation levels and methylation regulatory genes of wAIHA patients.