We examined genome-wide DNA methylation changes in CD8+ T cells from patients with lupus and controls and investigated the functional relevance of some of these changes in lupus.
Genome-wide DNA methylation of lupus and age, sex and ethnicity-matched control CD8+ T cells was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays. Measurement of relevant cell subsets was performed via flow cytometry. Gene expression was quantified by qPCR. Inhibiting STAT1 and CIITA was performed using fludarabine and CIITA siRNA, respectively.
Lupus CD8+ T cells had 188 hypomethylated CpG sites compared with healthy matched controls. Among the most hypomethylated were sites associated with 
Lupus CD8+ T cells are epigenetically primed to respond to type-I interferon. We describe an HLA-DRB1+ CD8+ T cell subset that can be induced by IFNα in patients with lupus. A possible pathogenic role for CD8+ T cells in lupus that is dependent on a high type-I interferon environment and epigenetic priming warrants further characterisation.