Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0004364 (autoimmune disease)
24,845 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affecting 2-4% of the Caucasian population. Inflammatory processes induce the migration of interferon (IFN) gamma producing Th1 lymphocytes into the skin. These play a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. These Th1 lymphocytes are responsible for the pathological reactions in psoriatic skin leading to keratinocyte hyperproliferation, small vessel proliferation and neutrophilic infiltration. Antigen-presenting cells activate dermal CD4+ T lymphocytes, and various signals can support the polarization of Th1 responses. The main signal for Th1 development is interleukin (IL) 12. After binding to their receptors both IL-12 and IFN-gamma promote intracellular IFN-gamma production by activating signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 or 1. STAT1 activation by IFN-gamma is followed by T-bet activation, a master transcription factor for Th1 lymphocytes. In experimental models of Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases immune deviation of polarized autoreactive Th1 into anti-inflammatory Th2 responses generally improves the disease. Therefore new therapeutic approaches based on immunomodulating molecules have been developed for psoriasis, a prototypical Th1-mediated autoimmune disorder. Recently IL-4, the most effective Th2-inducing cytokine, has been shown to be safe and efficient for treating psoriasis. Improvement was associated with the induction of a Th2 phenotype of skin infiltrating lymphocytes. This review summarizes the IL-4 inducing potential of various conventional and newer systemic therapies for psoriasis. Many of these were thought to be primarily immunosuppressive. A review of the literature reveals that most of them can induce IL-4 and Th2, and that Th2 induction may be an underestimated mode of action in the therapy of Th1-mediated autoimmune disease. Further studies are needed to determine the central role of IL-4 in the control of Th1-induced autoimmune disease, namely psoriasis.
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PMID:A molecule solves psoriasis? Systemic therapies for psoriasis inducing interleukin 4 and Th2 responses. 1287 54

TGF-beta1 prevents the development of autoimmune disease by restraining the development of autoreactive Th1 cells. TGF-beta1 inhibits Th1 development in part by suppressing the expression of T-bet, an IFN-gamma-induced transcription factor that promotes Th1 differentiation, but how TGF-beta1 suppresses T-bet is not known. In this study we show that TGF-beta1 suppresses IFN-gamma-induced T-bet expression through the hemopoietic protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (Shp-1). In murine CD4+ T cells, IFN-gamma rapidly induced the expression of T-bet as well as of IFN regulatory factor-1, another transcription factor important for Th1 development. TGF-beta1 antagonized the effects of IFN-gamma, inhibiting IFN-gamma's induction of both Th1 transcription factors. In the presence of IFN-gamma, TGF-beta1 rapidly induced in Th cells the synthesis of the PTP Shp-1, but did not induce Shp-2 or several members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling family of Jak-Stat inhibitors. We tested the requirement for Shp-1 by using T cells from the Shp-1-deficient me(v)/me(v) mouse strain. Shp-1 was required for TGF-beta1's suppressive effects, because its suppression of T-bet and IFN regulatory factor-1 was completely abrogated in me(v)/me(v) CD4+ T cells. Receptor-proximal responses to IFN-gamma, such as the induction of Jak-Stat phosphorylation, were inhibited by TGF-beta1 in wild-type T cells, but not in me(v)/me(v) T cells. Consistent with a direct role for Shp-1, TGF-beta1's inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced Stat1 phosphorylation was sensitive to the general PTP inhibitor pervanadate. Together, these data show that TGF-beta1 suppresses IFN-gamma signaling and transcriptional responses in CD4+ T cells through the PTP Shp-1.
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PMID:TGF-beta1 inhibits T-bet induction by IFN-gamma in murine CD4+ T cells through the protein tyrosine phosphatase Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1. 1623 56

Despite a rapidly accumulating clinical experience with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a treatment for severe refractory autoimmune disease, data on the mechanisms by which ASCT induces immune tolerance are still very scarce. In this study it is shown that ASCT restores immunologic self-tolerance in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) via 2 mechanisms. First, ASCT induces a restoration of the frequency of FoxP3 expressing CD4+CD25bright regulatory T cells (Tregs) from severely reduced numbers before ASCT to normal levels after ASCT. This recovery is due to a preferential homeostatic expansion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs during the lymphopenic phase of immunereconstitution, as measured by Ki67 and CD44 expression, and to a renewed thymopoiesis of naive mRNA FoxP3 expressing CD4+CD25+ Tregs after ASCT. Second, using artificial antigen-presenting cells to specifically isolate self-reactive T cells, we demonstrate that ASCT induces autoimmune cells to deviate from a proinflammatory phenotype (mRNA interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] and T-bet high) to a tolerant phenotype (mRNA interleukin-10 [IL-10] and GATA-3 high). These data are the first to demonstrate the qualitative immunologic changes that are responsible for the induction of immune tolerance by ASCT for JIA: the restoration of the CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory network and reprogramming of autoreactive T cells.
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PMID:Autologous stem cell transplantation for autoimmunity induces immunologic self-tolerance by reprogramming autoreactive T cells and restoring the CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory network. 1626 87

Calcineurin antagonists are known as potent immunosuppressants working particularly on T cells by virtue of their capacity to block nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) activation and translocation to the nucleus. In addition to interleukin (IL)-2 suppression, T helper cell type 1 (Th1) as well as Th2 cytokine transcription is blocked by calcineurin antagonists. Here, we show that calcineurin antagonists such as cyclosporin A (CsA) or tacrolimus can markedly enhance the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by human T cells. This increased IFN-gamma production is dependent on T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 signaling as well as on the presence of IL-12. IL-27, which could mimic the effect of IL-12, was however less potent in inducing IFN-gamma production in the presence of CsA and TCR stimulation. Other cytokines such as IL-23, IL-18, IL-2, or the Th2-related cytokine IL-4 are not able to support a calcineurin antagonist-dependent up-regulation of IFN-gamma. CsA-dependent IFN-gamma production is observable in therapeutic concentrations. The effect is independent of IL-10 or IL-4, as addition of these cytokines could not inhibit the CsA-induced IFN-gamma production. The effect of calcineurin antagonists is associated with an increased c-fos expression and DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor activated protein-1 but not with increased DNA-binding activity of T-bet. Our study further supports the relevance of known calcineurin activities other than NFAT activation. The presented data may help to explain why concomitant infections (resulting in increased IL-12 expression) under therapy with calcineurin antagonists often have a negative impact on the activity of the underlying disease (e.g., autoimmune disease).
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PMID:Critical involvement of IL-12 in IFN-gamma induction by calcineurin antagonists in activated human lymphocytes. 1664 Nov 33

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and it is considered to be a T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated autoimmune disease. T-bet has been identified as a key transcription factor for the development of Th1 cells and the induction of interferon (IFN)-gamma production. T-bet is induced during T-cell activation by the IFN-gamma signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 signalling pathway. In this study we found an up-regulation of T-bet and pSTAT1 in peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and monocytes from relapsing-remitting MS patients in relapse compared with patients in remission and with healthy subjects. The increased expression of pSTAT1 strongly correlated with T-bet expression in CD4+ and CD8+ cells and monocytes from patients in relapse and was associated with an increased production of IFN-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). pSTAT3 was also up-regulated in CD4+ and CD8+ cells and monocytes from patients in relapse and was associated with an increased production of interleukin (IL)-10 but not of IL-6. pSTAT1, pSTAT3, and T-bet expression strongly correlated with Gd-DTPA-enhanced lesions on brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging. Our data show for the first time that there is an up-regulation of type 1 immunity-correlated transcription factors such as STAT1 and T-bet in peripheral blood subpopulations of MS patients in the active phase of disease. The evaluation of T-bet and pSTAT1 expression in peripheral blood CD4+, CD8+ T cells and monocytes could be used as a marker of disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS.
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PMID:pSTAT1, pSTAT3, and T-bet expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients correlates with disease activity. 1686 9

CD80 expressed on the surface of APCs provides a positive costimulatory signal to naive CD4+ T cells during activation. Therefore, it was hypothesized that treatment of SJL mice with various forms of anti-CD80 mAb during remission from the acute phase of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) would ameliorate disease progression. We previously reported that treatment of SJL mice with anti-CD80 Fab during R-EAE remission blocked activation of T cells specific for endogenous myelin epitopes, inhibiting epitope spreading and clinical disease progression; however, treatment with the native form of the same anti-CD80 mAb exacerbated disease progression. The current data show that intact anti-CD80 mAb binds both CNS-infiltrating CD4+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells and that exacerbation of R-EAE directly correlates with increased survival and activity of myelin-specific CD4+ T cells, while the percentage of CD11c+ dendritic cells in the CNS and their APC activity was not altered. In vitro data show that cross-linking CD80 on the surface of CD4+ T cells activated in the presence of Th1-promoting cytokines increases the level of T cell activation, effector function, and survival by directly up-regulating the expression levels of transcripts for T-bet, IFN-gamma, and Bcl-xL. These findings indicate a novel regulatory role for CD80-mediated intracellular signals in CD4+ T cells and have important implications for using anti-costimulatory molecule mAb therapy in established autoimmune disease.
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PMID:CD4+ T cell expressed CD80 regulates central nervous system effector function and survival during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. 1692 Sep 30

The principal aim of the immune system is to establish a balance between defense against pathogens and avoidance of autoimmune disease. This balance is achieved partly through regulatory T cells (Tregs). CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs are either naturally occurring or induced by antigens and are characterized by the expression of the X-linked forkhead/winged helix transcription factor, Foxp3. Here we report a previously unrecognized subset of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs derived from CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells induced by nitric oxide (NO). The induction of Tregs (NO-Tregs) is independent of cGMP but depends on p53, IL-2, and OX40. NO-Tregs produced IL-4 and IL-10, but not IL-2, IFNgamma, or TGFbeta. The cells were GITR(+), CD27(+), T-bet(low), GATA3(high), and Foxp3(-). NO-Tregs suppressed the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells in vitro and attenuated colitis- and collagen-induced arthritis in vivo in an IL-10-dependent manner. NO-Tregs also were induced in vivo in SCID mice adoptively transferred with CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells in the presence of LPS and IFNgamma, and the induction was completely inhibited by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, a pan NO synthase inhibitor. Therefore, our findings uncovered a previously unrecognized function of NO via the NO-p53-IL-2-OX40-survivin signaling pathway for T cell differentiation and development.
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PMID:Nitric oxide induces CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 regulatory T cells from CD4+CD25 T cells via p53, IL-2, and OX40. 1787 88

Hyperforin (Hyp) is an active compound contained in the extract of Hypericum perforatum, well known for its antidepressant activity. However, Hyp has been found to possess several other biological properties, including inhibitory effects on tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammation. In this paper, we show that treatment with Hyp inhibited IFN-gamma production, with down-regulation of T-box (T-bet; marker of Th1 gene expression) and up-regulation of GATA-3 (marker gene of Th2) on IL-2/PHA-activated T cells. In parallel, we showed a strong down-regulation of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 expression on activated T cells. The latter effect and the down-modulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression may eventually lead to the inhibition of migratory capability and matrix traversal toward the chemoattractant CXCL10 by activated lymphocytes that we observed in vitro. The effect of Hyp was thus evaluated on an animal model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a classic, Th1-mediated autoimmune disease of the CNS, and we observed that Hyp attenuates the severity of the disease symptoms significantly. Together, these properties qualify Hyp as a putative, therapeutic molecule for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory disease sustained by Th1 cells, including EAE.
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PMID:Hyperforin down-regulates effector function of activated T lymphocytes and shows efficacy against Th1-triggered CNS inflammatory-demyelinating disease. 1794 92

T-bet is a transcription factor that is essential for T helper (Th)1 lineage commitment and optimal IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells. We examined the role of T-bet in the development of experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis, which is induced by Th1-predominant, delayed-type hypersensitivity-like responses directed against a nephritogenic antigen. Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis was induced in T-bet(-/-) and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Compared with wild-type controls, renal injury was attenuated in T-bet(-/-) mice with glomerulonephritis, evidenced by less proteinuria, glomerular crescents, and tubulointerstitial inflammation. Accumulation of glomerular CD4(+) T cells and macrophages was decreased, and was associated with reduced intrarenal expression of the potent Th1 chemoattractants CCL5/RANTES and CXCL9/Mig. Supporting the pro-inflammatory nature of T-bet signaling, assessment of systemic immunity confirmed that T-bet(-/-) mice had a reduction in Th1 immunity. The kinetic profile of T-bet mRNA in wild-type mice supported the hypothesis that T-bet deficiency attenuates renal injury in part by shifting the Th1/Th2 balance away from a Th1 phenotype. Expression of renal and splenic IL-17A, characteristically expressed by the Th17 subset of effector T cells, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, was increased in T-bet(-/-) mice. We conclude that T-bet directs Th1 responses that induce renal injury in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis.
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PMID:T-bet deficiency attenuates renal injury in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis. 1823 99

The autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens such as chromatin, DNA, and RNA. This focused autoreactivity is thought to arise from the ability of DNA or RNA specific B cells to receive dual signals from the BCR and TLR9 or TLR7, respectively. The Tec kinase Btk is necessary for the production of anti-DNA antibodies in several murine models of SLE. To assess the role of Btk in the fate of DNA reactive B cells, we generated Btk-/- mice carrying the 56R anti-DNA Ig transgene on the C57BL/6 background. dsDNA specific B cells were present in 56R.Btk-/- mice, although they were not preferentially localized to the marginal zone. These cells were able to proliferate in response to large CpG DNA containing fragments that require BCR-induced internalization to access TLR9. However, anti-DNA antibodies were not observed in the serum of 56R.Btk-/- mice. A transgene expressing a low level of Btk in B cells (Btk(lo)) restored anti-DNA IgM in these mice. This correlated with partial rescue of proliferative response to BCR engagement and TLR9-induced IL-10 secretion in Btk(lo) B cells. anti-DNA IgG was not observed in 56R.Btk(lo) mice, however. This was likely due, at least in part, to a role for Btk in controlling the expression of T-bet and AID in cells stimulated with CpG DNA. Thus, Btk is required for the initial loss of tolerance to DNA and the subsequent production of pathogenic autoantibodies once tolerance is breached.
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PMID:Btk regulates localization, in vivo activation, and class switching of anti-DNA B cells. 1884 77


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