Search results for "autoimmunity"

Expression profiling of autoimmune regulator AIRE mRNA in a comprehensive set of human normal and neoplastic tissues.

2006

Defects in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene cause the monogenic autoimmune disease autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1), which is characterized by a loss of self-tolerance to multiple organs. In concordance with its role in immune tolerance, AIRE is strongly expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). Data on mechanisms controlling AIRE activation and the expression of this gene in other tissues are fragmentary and controversial. We report here AIRE mRNA expression profiling of a large set of normal human tissues and cells, tumor specimen and methylation deficient cell lines. On this broad data basis we found that AIRE mRNA expression is confined to mTECs in…

UVB light attenuates the systemic immune response in CNS autoimmunity

2014

Dendritic cells: sentinels of immunity and tolerance.

2005

The induction of effective antigen-specific T-cell immunity to pathogens without the initiation of autoimmunity has evolved as a sophisticated and highly balanced immunoregulatory mechanism. This mechanism assures the generation of antigen-specific effector cells as well as the induction and maintenance of antigen-specific tolerance to self-structures of the body. As professional antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, dendritic cells (DC) are ideally positioned throughout the entire body and equipped with a unique capability to transport antigens from the periphery to lymphoid tissues. There is growing evidence that DC, besides their well-known immunostimulatory properties, also ind…

Revisiting Current Concepts on the Tolerogenicity of Steady-State Dendritic Cell Subsets and Their Maturation Stages

2021

Abstract The original concept stated that immature dendritic cells (DC) act tolerogenically whereas mature DC behave strictly immunogenically. Meanwhile, it is also accepted that phenotypically mature stages of all conventional DC subsets can promote tolerance as steady-state migratory DC by transporting self-antigens to lymph nodes to exert unique functions on regulatory T cells. We propose that in vivo 1) there is little evidence for a tolerogenic function of immature DC during steady state such as CD4 T cell anergy induction, 2) all tolerance as steady-state migratory DC undergo common as well as subset-specific molecular changes, and 3) these changes differ by quantitative and qualitati…

Analysis of the antibody repertoire in tears of dry-eye patients.

2001

<i>Purpose:</i> It has recently been suggested that dry-eye disease has an underlying autoimmune mechanism. This hypothesis is further supported by the successful treatment of the disease with immunomodulatory drugs such as cyclosporin A. Although it is known that tears contain antibodies, very little is known about the antibody repertoires in tears. It was the aim of this study to analyze the IgA antibody repertoire against ocular antigens in the tears of patients suffering from dry-eye disease and compare it to those of healthy volunteers. <i>Methods:</i> Two groups were examined: 20 healthy volunteers (controls) and 28 patients suffering from dry-eye disease. The …

B cell activating factor (BAFF): Structure, functions, autoimmunity and clinical implications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

2020

The B cell activating factor (BAFF), or B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), is a B cell survival factor which supports autoreactive B cells and prevents their deletion. BAFF expression is closely linked with autoimmunity and is enhanced by genetic alterations and viral infections. Furthermore, BAFF seems to be involved in adipogenesis, atherosclerosis, neuro-inflammatory processes and ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. BAFF is commonly overexpressed in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and strongly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The relationship between BAFF levels, disease activity and damage accrual in SLE is controversial, but growing evidence is emerging on its role in renal …

A20 deficiency in B cells enhances B-cell proliferation and results in the development of autoantibodies.

2011

A20/TNFAIP3 is an ubiquitin-editing enzyme, important for the regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Mutations in the TNFAIP3 gene have been linked to different human autoimmune disorders. In human B-cell lymphomas, the inactivation of A20 results in constitutive NF-κB activation. Recent studies demonstrate that in mice the germline inactivation of A20 leads to early lethality, due to inflammation in multiple organs of the body. In this report, we describe a new mouse strain allowing for the tissue-specific deletion of A20. We show that B-cell-specific deletion of A20 results in a dramatic reduction in marginal zone B cells. Furthermore, A20-deficient B cells display a hyperactive phenotype repre…

Translocation of the nuclear autoantigen La to cell surface: assembly and disassembly with the extracellular matrix.

1991

La (SS-B) protein is known as one major antigenic target for autoantibodies from patients with certain autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome or Lupus Erythematosus. La protein belongs to the so called "extractable nuclear antigens". Here we report that La antigen is not restricted to the nucleus as one might deduce from the exclusive nuclear staining pattern of patient anti-La antibodies but after stimulation of serum-starved cells with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) appears and stays for at least 45 min at the outer surface of CV-1 cells being available for binding of anti-La antibodies. In addition we found that a minor part of La antigen associates with the extracellular fibronectin…

Nucleic acid recognizing Toll-like receptors and autoimmunity

2007

The understanding of autoimmune diseases experienced an impressive boost since the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as possible key players in autoimmune pathophysiology. Although these receptors recognize a variety of structures derived from viruses, bacteria, and fungi leading to subsequent initiation of the relevant immune responses, recent data support the idea that TLRs are crucial in the induction and perpetuation of certain autoimmune diseases, especially the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this review, we will summarize recent data on involvement of TLRs in the development of autoimmune diseases. We will focus on TLRs 7, 8, and 9 that were originally identified…

The collagen-like component of the complement system, C1q, is recognized by 7 S autoantibodies and is functionally impaired in synovial fluids of pat…

1996

Cross-reactivity between type II collagen (CII) and C1q, the collagen-like subunit of the first component of complement, has been demonstrated in synovial fluid (SF) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Many authors have studied autoimmunity to CII in RA, but little work has been done on autoimmunity to C1q in RA. In the data presented here, we have been able to show that in addition to native C1q, an altered form of C1q is present in SF from RA patients. Furthermore, a low molecular weight form of C1q is present in RA SF, although its role, if any, in the pathogenesis of RA is unclear. The presence in these RA SF of C1q-specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) has been studied and we have par…