Immune system autoimmune diseases

Similarly, under certain disease conditions, altered NA innervation and/or AR signaling capacity impairs sympathetic communication with cells of the immune system, influencing disease progression. Altered catecholamine communication with the immune system is evident in autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis [5-7] and in infectious diseases, such as leprosy and a mouse model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [15, 43, 44], The impact of altered NA innervation of... 

The possibility of autoimmune disorders during interferon alfa treatment has been addressed by many authors. The spectrum of interferon alfa-induced immune diseases includes organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis, diabetes, hematological disorders, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological disease, and myasthenia gravis (156). Several have been discussed in appropriate sections elsewhere in this monograph. The exact role of interferon alfa is usually difficult to ascertain, because the underlying disease, that is chronic hepatitis C, can also be associated with immune-mediated disease. 

Cytokine concentrations reflect the severity of some diseases and are markers of prognosis. This is particularly applicable for infectious diseases (bacterial sepsis and parasitological infections) and immune disorders (autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and allergic diseases, such as asthma and skin hypersensitivity). 

Corticosteroids are commonly used to reduce inflammation (innate immunity), treat autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and as a prophylactic measure to prevent transplant rejection. The adrenocorticosteroid prednisone is often coadministered with other immunosuppressives such as cyclosporine and azathioprine [36]. 

Silica-induced LE is a chronic multiorgan system autoimmune disease with frequent exacerbations and remissions similar to the natural course of mixed connective tissue disease. The pathomechanism of LE is not yet completely understood. Based on a genetic background, a major role seems to be played by disturbances of immune regulation, such as T-cell abnormalities, including T-cell cytokine network. 

Immune system immunostimulating properties, role as super antigen change in the number and distribution of cells in the immime system (increase in the number of macrophages, decline in number of NK cells - natural killer cells) development of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia formation of antibodies against polymers [24, 31,45,48,60, 66-69]... 

Hibbs ML, Tarlinton DM. Armes J. Grail D. Hodgson G, Maghtto R, Stacker SA, Dunn AR Multiple defects in the immune system of Lyn-deficient mice, culminating in autoimmune disease. Cell 1995 83 301-311. Nishizumi H, Yamamoto T Impaired tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca + mobiUzation, but not degranulation, in Lyn-deficient bone marrow-derived mast cells. J Immunol 1997 158 2350-2355. 

One fundamental property of an animal s immune system is that it does not normally react against its own body constituents, i.e. it exhibits tolerance. However, clinical and experimental evidence shows that certain diseases exist in which the patient apparently destroys his/her own cells. The reactions could involve Tc cells, B cells orNK cells, and the result of the reaction with antigen may result in a pathological condition arising (autoimmune disease). Autoimmunity is the mirror-image of tolerance and reflects the loss of tolerance to self... 

Autoimmune diseases in which immunological self-tolerance breaks down and the immune system launches an attack on self-antigens. 

The overall effect of Li+ on the hematopoietic system is of stimulation of the immune system. Not surprisingly then, Li+ is reported to exacerbate the activity of a number of autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis [212] and rheumatoid arthritis [213], and to result in the production of autoantibodies in some patients [214]. However, there is no evidence that Li+ s stimulation of the immune system leads to any reduction in the occurrence of viral or bacterial infections in patients on Li+ therapy. 

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