title: [New Pathogenetic Concepts and Early Pharmacological Studies in Sarcoidosis].
abstract: The etiology of sarcoidosis is still elusive, yet there has been considerable progress in various areas of basic and clinical research. This review focuses on mechanisms of granuloma formation and on new findings in autoimmunity and genetics of sarcoidosis. A new promising concept arose, where serum amyloid A and/or mycobacterial antigens serve as nidus for granuloma formation. Furthermore, autoimmunity in sarcoidosis was neglected for a long time, yet new studies found autoantigens and abnormalities in antigen presentation in sarcoidosis. Last but not least, large genome-wide association studies discovered several new predisposing genes, leading to new hypotheses on pathomechanisms of sarcoidosis.In the second part, we focus on ongoing or recently completed clinical-pharmacological studies in patients with sarcoidosis: Positive studies were published in well characterized and homogenous subcohorts of sarcoid patients. Several drugs have shown a positive effect on sarcoidosis-associated fatigue, on sarcoidosis of the skin and on pulmonary hypertension in sarcoid patients. It seems that the generation of clinically closely defined subcohorts is necessary to achieve positive outcomes in studies on sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Department Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Department Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Department Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zissel
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Department Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller-Quernheim
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D055261:Immunogenetic Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D018448:Models, Immunological; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019141:Respiratory System Agents