Whereas specific mechanisms affecting levels of 5mC and 5hmC in MS neurons remain to be explored, several processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation or hypoxia together with putative upstream regulators identified in our study (e.g. TGF-β1, POU5F1, CREB1, Additional file 4), may impact locus-specific 5mC and 5hmC profiles. This evidence concerns the gene POU5F1 and myeloid sarcoma.