title: Selected Aspects in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases.
abstract: Autoimmune processes can be found in physiological circumstances. However, they are quenched with properly functioning regulatory mechanisms and do not evolve into full-blown autoimmune diseases. Once developed, autoimmune diseases are characterized by signature clinical features, accompanied by sustained cellular and/or humoral immunological abnormalities. Genetic, environmental, and hormonal defects, as well as a quantitative and qualitative impairment of immunoregulatory functions, have been shown in parallel to the relative dominance of proinflammatory Th17 cells in many of these diseases. In this review we focus on the derailed balance between regulatory and Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Additionally, we depict a cytokine imbalance, which gives rise to a biased T-cell homeostasis. The assessment of Th17/Treg-cell ratio and the simultaneous quantitation of cytokines, may give a useful diagnostic tool in autoimmune diseases. We also depict the multifaceted role of dendritic cells, serving as antigen presenting cells, contributing to the development of the pathognomonic cytokine signature and promote cellular and humoral autoimmune responses. Finally we describe the function and role of extracellular vesicles in particular autoimmune diseases. Targeting these key players of disease progression in patients with autoimmune diseases by immunomodulating therapy may be beneficial in future therapeutic strategies.
authors: Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1089, Hungary.
authors: György
authors: G
authors: Nagy
authors: Centre for Immune Regulation and Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: Huszthy
authors: K.G. Jebsen Center for Influenza Vaccine Research, Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
authors: Even
authors: E
authors: Fossum
authors: Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital and ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation, 0280 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Yrjö
authors: Y
authors: Konttinen
authors: Centre for Immune Regulation and Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
authors: Britt
authors: B
authors: Nakken
authors: Centre for Immune Regulation and Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Szodoray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000209:etiology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000209:etiology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines