Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in Lyme neuroborreliosis reveals altered methylation patterns of HLA genes.

Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a complex neuroinflammatory disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through tick bites. Epigenetic alterations, specifically DNA methylation (DNAm), could play a role in the host immune response during infection. In this study, we present the first genome-wide analysis of DNAm in PBMCs from LNB and non-LNB patients. Using a network-based approach, highlighted HLA genes at the core of these DNAm changes, which were found to be enriched in immune-related pathways. These findings shed light on the role of epigenetic modifications in the LNB pathogenesis that should be confirmed and further expanded upon in future studies.