[Pathophysiology of Behcet's disease].
METHODS
Pathophysiology of Behçet's disease (BD) is complex. Recent experimental data shed new light on the mechanisms leading to organ lesions.


RESULTS
Neutrophils and cytotoxic lymphocytes are now recognized as key effector cells in BD. Genetic susceptibility, environmental factors (virus and/or bacterial infections), inflammatory response abnormalities (heat shock proteins, dysregulated NO production) and abnormal immune response play also a major role in BD pathogeny.


CONCLUSIONS
Better understanding of the BD pathophysiology will allow the development of new therapies more specific of BD.
Amoura
Z
Z
Centre national de référence maladies rares, service de médecine interne, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France. zahir.amoura@psl.aphp.fr
Guillaume
M
M
Caillat-Zucman
S
S
Wechsler
B
B
Piette
J-C
JC
D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha