[The cryoglobulinemic syndrome--report from the workshop on classification and on the 10th conference of the Italian Society for the treatment of Cryoglobulinemia, Modena, 29 Sept., 2003].
The conference was preceded by a workshop of an European expert group on the n evaluation, testing, and workup of a new classification for cryoglobulinemic syndrome. Several studies on the potential role of infections, especially hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases were presented and discussed at the conference. A cross-reactivity between CMV proteins and different auto-antigens could play a role with respect to the initial endothelial damage in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. A number of immune mechanisms may be involved in the induction of the cryoglobulinemic syndrome such as the formation of cross-reacting antibodies, chronic B-cell stimulation, an interaction between the HCV core protein and tumor suppressor genes p53 and/or proto-oncogens, and the t(14;18) translocation with bcl-2 activation and prolonged B-cell survival.
Lamprecht
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Poliklinik für Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck und Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. lamprecht@rheuma-zentrum.de
D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000145:classification* / Q000628:therapy*; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013577:Syndrome