The protein deacetylase SIRT1 is crucial to numerous physiological processes, such as aging, metabolism, and autoimmunity, and is repressed by various transcription factors, including HIC1.
As immune cells are crucial in controlling immune-associated diseases, SIRT1-and HIF1α associated-metabolism is closely linked to immune-associated diseases, including infection, tumors, allergic airway inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.
Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) is a type of Class III histone deacetylases (HDACs), and has been reported to play roles in the pathogenesis of different autoimmune diseases and can modulate DNMT1 activity.
Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) is a Class 3 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) that is thought to be implicated in the protection against autoimmune diseases.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which upregulated expression of SIRT1 on CD4+ T lymphocytes of active patients has been reported.
The role of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) in innate immunity, and in particular the influence of SIRT1 on antimicrobial defense against infection, has yet to be reported but is important to define since SIRT1 inhibitors are being investigated as therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer, Huntington's disease, and autoimmune diseases.
In this review, we highlight the functions of Sirt1 in the immune system focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms, and the potential of Sirt1 as a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.
These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of T cell activation and anergy, and we suggest that activators of Sirt1 may be useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of autoimmune diseases.
We interpret these observations as consistent with a role for SIRT1 in sustaining normal immune function and in this way delaying the onset of autoimmune disease.