DNA hypermethylation of PTPN22 gene promoter in children and adolescents with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

This study demonstrates for the first time that a relationship between autoimmune thyroiditis and PTPN22 gene promoter DNA methylation state is present, thus proposing another possible etiological association between thyroiditis and abnormalities of PTPN22 function. Further expression studies are required to confirm these findings.