Identical twins and immune modulated diseases

In the case of multiple sclerosis, there has been some evidence of a genetic effect, although not a defining one. For example, if one identical twin has MS, the other has a 30% chance of MS, not a controlling factor, but one of above average risk.

New evidence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may suggest an answer.

See Identical Twins With, Without Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Differentially Variable DNA Methylation



"Through genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in disease-discordant monozygotic twins, we have identified a differentially variable DNA methylation signature, in the absence of differential methylation in rheumatoid arthritis," Manchester's Jane Worthington and her colleagues wrote in Genome Medicine this week. "This finding supports the importance of epigenetic variability as an emerging component in autoimmune disorders."