This review attempts to define the relationship between IL-15 and autoimmune disease (AID) from IL-15's tissue distribution, expression regulation and biologic function. Meanwhile, five IL-15 dysregulation-related AIDs and four IL-15/IL-15R-targeted AID therapies are described.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-15 ; metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; metabolism ; Multiple Sclerosis ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Insulins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by damage and dysfunction of multiple organs and various complications. Recently, new therapies for autoimmune diseases have been proposed extensively, and there are growing researches focusing on the immunomodulatory abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). As a kind of small vesicles secreted by cells, exosomes can be released by MSCs and other cells. Being enriched with protein, mRNA, microRNA, lipids and other cell contents, exosomes participate in the transfer of substances and information between cells, and regulate the biological functions of recipient cells, which may be a potential mechanism of the immunomodulation abilities of MSCs. A growing number of studies have shown that the exosomes secreted by MSCs have similar or even better immunomodulation abilities than MSCs, and their roles in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases have been confirmed in animal models. In this review, we briefly summarize the effects of MSCs and the MSCs-derived exosomes on the immune system and immune cells, especially focusing on the research progress of MSCs-derived exosomes in autoimmune diseases in recent years.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/therapy* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Immunomodulation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

IL-32 acts as a pro-inflammatory cytokine by inducing the synthesis of inflammatory molecules as well as promoting the morphological changes involved in the transformation of monocytes into osteoclasts (OCs). Evaluation of the functions of IL-32 has mainly focused on its inflammatory properties, such as involvement in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Recently, IL-32 was shown to be involved in bone metabolism, in which it promotes the differentiation and activation of OCs and plays a key role in bone resorption in inflammatory conditions. IL-32γ also regulates bone formation in conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and osteoporosis. In this review, we summarize the results of recent studies on the role of IL-32γ in bone metabolism in inflammatory arthritis.
Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bone Resorption ; Inflammation ; Metabolism* ; Monocytes ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

In addition to regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism to maintain strong bones, vitamin D also has immune regulating and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, it is related to chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Many studies indicate the roles of vitamin D in the development and progression of endometriosis including the effects on modulation of immune responses, inflammation reactions, cell proliferation and apoptosis, angiogenesis, adhesion and invasion. Vitamin D supplementation can relieve pain and improve endometrial receptivity associated with endometriosis and play a preventive and therapeutic role. This paper summarizes the roles of vitamin D in endometriosis.
Autoimmune Diseases ; physiopathology ; Endometriosis ; physiopathology ; Endometrium ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Vitamin D ; immunology ; metabolism

B7-H6 is a co-stimulatory molecule discoveried recently. B7-H6 is not expressed on normal cells, but specially expressed on tumor cells. It can also be expressed on antigen presenting cells (APC) by the induction. The B7-H6 expression can be downregulated by HDACi. NK cells can be activated to release TNFα and IFNγ through B7H6-NKp30 pathway. The B7-H6 molecules expressed on the cell surface can be shedded to form soluble molecules. In the meantime, the B7-H6/NKp30 pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren syndrome. B7-H6/NKp30 may become a new therapeutic target for tumor, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. This review discusses the B7-H6 and receptor sructure, the expression and significance of B7-H6, the function and regulating mechanism of B7-H6 and the soluble molecules of B7-H6.
Autoimmune Diseases ; B7 Antigens ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Killer Cells, Natural ; metabolism ; Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 ; metabolism ; Neoplasms

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP4K1, also called hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1, HPK1) is a serine/threonine kinase. As a member of the MAP4K family, MAP4K1 is closely associated with various adaptor proteins such as caspase recruitment domain family member 11 (CARD11), hematopoietic cell-specific protein 1 (HS1), HPK1-interacting protein of 55 kD (HIP-55), growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) family, the linker for activated T-cells (LAT), SH2 domain containing leukocyte protein of 76 kD (SLP-76) family, homologues of the v-crk oncogene product (CRK) family, the B-cell adaptor molecule of 32 kD (BAM32), etc. It plays important roles in many immunoreactions, such as regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis, inhibition of TCR/BCR signaling and T/B/dendritic cells-mediated immune responses. Thus, MAP4K1 is involved in autoimmune diseases and plays a key role in tumor and inflammatory reaction.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Neoplasms ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disorder which is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pituitary gland. Almost all reported cases have been in women and the disease is often associated with pregnancy. We describe here the first male case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in Korea. The patient presented with headache, impotence, decreased libido, and deteriorated vision. Endocrinologic studies showed panhypopituitarism, and pituitary MRI imaging revealed a homogeneously enhanced pituitary mass with a thickened stalk. Treatment with prednisolone and thyroid hormone for five months was ineffective. Transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary mass was performed successfully with normalization of the visual field defect. Histologic examination revealed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with dense collagenous fibrosis, consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Lymphocytic hypophysitis should be considered in differential diagnosis even in men with hypopituitarism and an enlarged pituitary gland.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis* ; Autoimmune Diseases/pathology ; Autoimmune Diseases/surgery ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Lymphocytes/cytology ; Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Diseases/diagnosis* ; Pituitary Diseases/pathology ; Pituitary Diseases/surgery ; Pituitary Gland/pathology* ; Pituitary Gland/surgery ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism ; Pregnancy

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem that increases risk for metabolic bone diseases in children and adults as well as many chronic illnesses including autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and cancer. This has raised important questions concerning the physiological and clinical impact of low vitamin D levels during pregnancy, with implications for functions of vitamin D. The review describes the pathways that are required for metabolism and function of vitamin D, the various clinical complications that have been linked to impaired vitamin D status during pregnancy, and effects of vitamin D supplementation on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Communicable Diseases ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical features of children with autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy (GFAP-A). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 34 children with GFAP-A who attended the Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, from January 2020 to February 2022. The medical data included clinical manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid features, imaging examination results, treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: The median age of onset was 8.4 (range 1.9-14.9) years for the 34 children with GFAP-A. The main clinical manifestations included headache (50%, 17/34), fever (47%, 16/34), visual impairment (47%, 16/34), and disturbance of consciousness (44%, 15/34). Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid results were observed in 19 children (56%, 19/34), among whom 8 children had positive autoantibody. The children with overlap syndrome had significantly higher recurrence rate and rate of use of immunosuppressant than those without overlap syndrome (P<0.05). About 77% (24/31) of the children had good response to immunotherapy, and only 1 child had poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Children with GFAP-A often have non-specific clinical symptoms and show good response to immunotherapy. Children with overlap syndrome have a high recurrence rate, and early application of immunosuppressants may help to prevent recurrence and alleviate symptoms.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Autoantibodies/metabolism* ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Autoimmune Diseases/metabolism*