title: Impact of microbes on autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases arise as a consequence of complex interactions of environmental factors with genetic traits. Although specific allelic variations cluster in predisposed individuals and promote the generation and/or expansion of autoreactive T and B lymphocytes, autoimmunity appears in various disease phenotypes and localizes to diverging tissues. Furthermore, the discovery that allelic variations within genes encoding components of the innate immune system drive self-reactive immune responses as well, led to the distinction of immune responses against host tissues into autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. In both categories of disorders, different pathogenic mechanisms and/or subsequent orders of tissue assaults may underlie the target cell specificity of the respective autoimmune attack. Furthermore, the transition from the initial tissue assault to the development of full-blown disease is likely driven by several factors. Thus, the development of specific forms of autoimmunity and autoinflammation reflects a multi-factorial process. The delineation of the specific factors involved in the pathogenic process is hampered by the fact that certain symptoms are assembled under the umbrella of a specific disease, although they might originate from diverging pathogenic pathways. These multi-factorial triggers and pathogenic pathways may also explain the inter-individual divergent courses and outcomes of diseases among humans. Here, we will discuss the impact of different environmental factors in general and microbial pathogens in particular on the regulation/expression of genes encoded within susceptibility alleles, and its consequences on subsequent autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory tissue damage utilizing primarily the chronic cholestatic liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis as model.
authors: Mikrobiologisches Institut, Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie Und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Danzer
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Mattner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis