Autoimmunity ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; immunology

T cell recognition of foreign peptide antigen and tolerance to self peptides is key to the proper function of the immune system. Usually, in the thymus T cells that recognize self MHC + self peptides are deleted and those with the potential to recognize self MHC + foreign peptides are selected to mature. However there are exceptions to these rules. Autoimmunity and allergy are two of the most common immune diseases that can be related to recognition of self. Many genes work together to lead to autoimmunity. Of those, particular MHC alleles are the most strongly associated, reflecting the key importance of MHC presentation of self peptides in autoimmunity. T cells specific for combinations of self MHC and self peptides may escape thymus deletion, and thus be able to drive autoimmunity, for several reasons: the relevant self peptide may be presented at low abundance in the thymus but at high level in particular peripheral tissues; the relevant self peptide may bind to MHC in an unusual register, not present in the thymus but apparent elsewhere; finally the relevant self peptide may be post translationally modified in a tissue specific fashion. In some types of allergy, the peptide + MHC combination may also be fully derived from self. However the combination in question may be modified by the presence of other ligands, such as small drug molecules or metal ions. Thus these types of allergies may act like the post translationally modified peptides involved some types of autoimmunity.
Animals ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; HLA Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Autoimmunity ; Female ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Autoimmunity ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Hepatitis C ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; immunology ; Muscle, Smooth ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is the most prevalent type of encephalitis. Investigating the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis will enhance our understanding of this disease and play a central part in providing reasonable treatment for the patients. The pathogenesis is elucidated as follows: (1) the findings of the relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and tumors; (2) further research on the relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and tumors; (3) NMDAR epitopes and the autoimmunity of patients; (4) the interaction between antibody and NMDAR; (5) the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis without tumors. This review gives a brief introduction to the methodology and way of finding out the valuable clinical problems and making a clear and explicit explanation of them by exhibiting the process of discovering the disease, disclosing its relationship with tumors, and investigating its pathological and molecular mechanism. Current studies have demonstrated that anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system that is closely associated with tumors, particularly ovarian teratoma.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; etiology ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; complications ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between simian acquired immunodeficiency syndromn (SAIDS) and autoimmunity in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected monkeys.

METHODSIndirect immunofluorescence assays were performed to detect plasma or serum autoantibodies in SIV-infected monkeys. The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and lymph node of BALB/c mice, a strain of endothelial cell ECV304, and granulocytes were used as target antigens. These results were compared with HE stained slides of SIV-infected monkeys.

RESULTSThe levels of various autoantibodies, including anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies, anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies, and anti-granulocyte antibodies, increased after SIV infection in monkeys. Moreover, pathological examinations showed injuries in the lymphoid tissue and vascular pathological changes in cerebral cortex, submucosa of gastrointestinal tract, interstitial capillaries of myocardium, nephron of the kidney, and sinusoid cell of liver.

CONCLUSIONThe increased autoantibodies and the pathological changes of tissues and organs confirm the existence of autoimmunity in SIV-infected monkeys.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Autoimmunity ; Endothelial Cells ; immunology ; Granulocytes ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; pathology ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of iodine on the level of CD4/CD8 cells and the production of thyroglobulin autoantibody (TGAb) and thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb) in Wistar rats and to investigate the role of iodine in thyroid autoimmunity.

METHODSRat models with different iodine intakes including low iodine (LI,), normal iodine (NI,), 5 times normal iodine (5HI), 10 times normal iodine (10HI), 50 times normal iodine (50HI) and 100 times normal iodine (100HI) were established. The amount of iodine intake per rat per day in every group was about < 1, 6.15, 30.75, 61.50, 307.50, 615.00 microg separately. The levels of CD4 and CD8 immune cells in peripheral blood were measured by using flow cytometry. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to determine the titers of TGAb and TPOAb in the serum.

RESULTSIn peripheral blood, the level of CD4 cells in LI group was (57.9 +/- 4.3)%, being much higher than in NI group (51.2 +/- 4.9)%. When the level of CD8 cells in 100HI group was (18.4 +/- 3.1)% showing significantly lower than in NI group (26.5 +/- 4.1)%, thus making the ratio of CD4/CD8 cells in the above two groups (LI: 2.4 +/- 0.40 and 100 HI: 2.7 +/- 0.4) higher than in NI group (1.9 +/- 0.3). As comparing with NI group (2099 +/- 220) CPM, the level of TGAb in LI group (1510 +/- 221) CPM was significantly decreased; while in 50HI group (3986 +/- 286) and 100HI group (3550 +/- 378) CPM, the levels of TGAb were both increased, and the levels of TPOAb in 10HI group (2066 +/- 184) CPM and in 50HI group (2141 +/- 163) CPM were both distinctly lower than in NI group (2372 +/- 245) CPM.

CONCLUSIONSIodine might exert influence on the level of CD4/CD8, and thus the production of thyroid antibodies might directly or indirectly take part in the process of thyroid autoimmunity. Both low iodine and 100 times normal iodine intakes might activate the immune state on some degrees. The effects of iodine on immune responses of TG and TPO antigen in thyroid autoimmunity might not be completely the same.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; drug effects ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drug Overdose ; Iodine ; adverse effects ; deficiency ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVEAbnormal maternal thyroid function is associated with preterm birth. However, this association stays dubious in relevant individual studies for ethnic difference reasons and lack of direct supporting data. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preterm birth and thyroid dysfunction or autoimmunity based on ethnic differences.

METHODSRelevant studies were identified through searches of MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, Wan Fang, China Biological Medicine disc, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to June 15, 2016. Original articles in which an incidence or prevalence of thyroid dysfunction or autoimmunity before second trimester of pregnancy could be extracted were included.

RESULTSThirty-two unique studies were included for the final meta-analysis. Patients involved were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2) comprising of Asian and Caucasian populations, respectively. Positive thyroid antibodies were associated with the occurrence of preterm birth in both G1 [odds ratio (OR): 3.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.83-4.65] and G2 (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.56); hypothyroidism, only in G2 (OR: 1.20, CI: 1.09-1.33); and subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia, in neither group.

CONCLUSIONThyroid autoimmunity may be a more favorable factor leading to preterm birth among pregnant women of different ethnicities, compared with thyroid dysfunction.

Autoimmune Diseases ; ethnology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Autoimmunity ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; ethnology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Premature Birth ; ethnology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Diseases ; ethnology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease of autoimmune etiology. The initial presentation of PBC is various from asymptomatic, abnormal liver biochemical tests to overt cirrhosis. The diagnosis of PBC is based on cholestatic biochemical liver tests, presence of antimitochondrial antibody and histologic findings of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. Although the diagnosis is straightforward, it could be underdiagnosed because of its asymptomatic presentation, or underrecognition of the disease. UDCA in a dose of 13-15 mg/kg is the widely approved therapy which can improve the prognosis of patients with PBC. However, one-third of patients does not respond to UDCA therapy and may require liver transplantation. Every effort to diagnose PBC in earlier stage and to develop new therapeutic drugs and clinical trials should be made.
Autoantibodies/blood ; Autoimmunity/immunology ; Cholagogues and Choleretics/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/*diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Liver Transplantation ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible mechanism of immune response in the resorption of the ruptured intervertebral disc herniation, and the possible mechanism of radix astragali on the resorption of the ruptured disc herniation.

METHODSTwenty-eight male SD (Sprague-dawley) rats were chosen. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, model group, the group treated with radix astragali injection and the group treated whit thymic peptide. The rats were killed and discs were harvested 10 days after treatment. Flow cytometry and HE staining were used for analysis of cells and tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the proportion of activated T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) and B cells were significantly higher in the two drug-treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONHerniated nucleus pulposus attracts activated T and B cells and triggered an immune response. Radix astragali could strengthen the autoimmune response.

Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley