Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014070 (encephalomyelitis)
 13,017 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report a case of acute postinfectious encephalopathy in a child following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. Serial MR scans showed lesions involving predominantly gray matter and the adjacent subcortical white matter--findings different from those in other immune-mediated disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, in which either white or gray matter may be involved, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, in which white matter abnormalities predominate with involvement of the subcortical white matter.
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PMID:Postinfectious encephalopathy in a child following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. 845 26

SK&F 105685 (N,N-dimethyl-8,8-dipropyl-2-azaspiro[4,5]decane-2-propanamine+ ++ dihydrochloride) is a novel azaspirane with beneficial activity in animal models of autoimmune disease such as adjuvant-induced arthritis and experimental encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat and lupus-like disease in the MRL mouse. The activity of SK&F 105685 in these models is associated with the induction of non-specific suppressor cell (SC) activity as defined by the ability of cells from drug-treated animals to inhibit the proliferative response of lymphocytes from control animals to concanavalin A. To evaluate the immunotoxicologic potential of SK&F 105685, the effect on immune function of one month of dosing with 1 mg/kg/day of SK&F 105685 was examined in the dog. Differential blood cell counts and ex vivo immune function assays were performed using blood collected before dosing on days 1 (baseline), 15 and 29, of the study. Immune function assays were performed on spleen cells on day 30. Under the conditions of the study, SK&F 105685 displayed pharmacological activity as demonstrated by the induction of splenic SC activity. The drug did not affect the total number or relative percentages of the various white blood cell types present in peripheral blood and did not cause generalized immunosuppression. The ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes or spleen cells to produce IL-2 or proliferate in response to mitogenic stimulation was not affected by drug treatment. SK&F 105685 also failed to affect the candidacidal activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and spleen cells indicating that it is unlikely to compromise nonspecific resistance to infection. SK&F 105685 however, was able to inhibit the generation of a specific in vitro antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) by splenocytes from treated animals. Inhibition of the anti-SRBC antibody response was also observed upon addition of the drug to normal spleen cells. Addition of the drug at different time points during the culture period indicated that SK&F 105685 was interfering with an event(s) occurring during the first 72 h of culture. Taken together, these results suggest that, in a therapeutic setting, SK&F 105685 is unlikely to compromise the immune status of the host as it can down-regulate a specific immune response without causing generalized immunosuppression.
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PMID:Effects of SK&F 105685, a novel anti-arthritic agent, on immune function in the dog. 846 15

Vitamin D has been discovered at the beginning of this century. 7-Dehydrocholesterol is converted to vitamin D3 in the skin and after several hydroxylations it is further converted to the active hormonal form, 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. Vitamin D stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphate and is an essential link in bone resorption and formation and calcium metabolism. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 acts through a vitamin D receptor. These receptors are not only present in clinical target organs (kidney, gut, liver) but can also be found in a wide variety of "non-classical" tissues (keratinocytes, cells belonging to the immune system). Moreover, numerous cells (keratinocytes, macrophages) can locally synthetize or can be induced to synthetize 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 and these cells are responsive to its action. When these data are combined, a possible paracrine function of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 can be suspected. Via this paracrine function 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 can suppress the cellular and humoral immunity. Based on the discovery of these effects on immune cells in vitro it became clear that 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 might be an interesting molecule to prevent autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation. This has already been shown in several animal models (Heymann nephritis, diabetes mellitus, experimental allergic-encephalomyelitis, lupus). 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 demonstrates however some side-effects (hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, bone resorption) and for this reason 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3-analogs are developed with dissociated effects i.e. an activity profile that allows a specific action on non-classical tissues without calcemic effects. Some chemical modifications of the side chain, A and/or CD-ring results in "superanalogs" with 10 to 100-fold more activity on cell differentiation and the immune system then 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 but with less calcemic activity in vivo. These biological effects can be explained by differences in pharmacokinetics (low affinity for the plasma vitamin D-binding protein and short extracellular half-life) and increased intracellular activation and gen transactivation. Preclinical research must still be done to select the most potent superanalogs and to find the exact protocols for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases and rejection of transplanted organs.
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PMID:[Immune modulation by vitamin D analogs in the prevention of autoimmune diseases]. 857 69

Neonatal exposure to antigen is believed to result in T cell clonal inactivation or deletion. Here we report that, contrary to this notion, neonatal injection of BALB/c mice with a hen egg lysozyme peptide 106-116 in putative "tolergenic" doses induced a T cell proliferative and an immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody (Ab) response of both T helper cell 1 (Th1)- (IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG 3) and Th2-dependent (IgG1) isotopes. Upon subsequent challenge with the peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant in adult life, although this neonatal regimen suppressed proliferation and the production of Th1 cytokines (interleukin[IL]-2 and interferon gamma), Th2 cytokine (IL-5, IL-4, and IL-10) secretion was increased, and the serum levels of Th1- and Th2-dependent isotypes of peptide-specific Ab remained elevated. The in vitro proliferative unresponsiveness in Th1 cells could be reversed by Abs to Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Thus, neonatal treatment with a peptide antigen induces T cell priming including production of IgG Abs of both Th1- and Th2-dependent isotypes. Upon subsequent peptide exposure, the peptide-specific T cell responses undergo an effective class switch in the direction of Th2, resulting in T cell proliferative unresponsiveness. Accordingly, this shift towards increased Ab production to autoantigen could be deleterious in individuals prone to antibody-mediated diseases. Indeed, neonatal treatment with a self-autoantigenic peptide from an anti-DNA monoclonal Ab (A6H 58-69) significantly increased the IgG anti-double-stranded DNA Ab levels in lupus-prone NZB/NZW F1 mice, despite suppressing peptide-specific T cell proliferation. This adverse clinical response is in sharp contrast to the beneficial outcome of neonatal treatment with autoantigens in Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis, as reported by others. A Th1 to Th2 immune deviation can explain the discordant biological responses after the presumed induction of neonatal tolerance in autoantibody- vs. Th-1 mediated autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:Neonatal peptide exposure can prime T cells and, upon subsequent immunization, induce their immune deviation: implications for antibody vs. T cell-mediated autoimmunity. 866 87

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical mediator of a variety of biological functions. A range of micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths, is sensitive to NO produced by macrophages activated with gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, NO is involved in a number of important immunopathologies, including diabetes, graft-vs-host reaction, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Thus, it is crucial that the synthesis of NO is under tight regulation. This is achieved, in part, through the opposing cytokines produced by T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells. Th1 cells produce IFN-gamma, which is the most powerful inducer of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). In contrast, interleukin 4 is produced by Th2 cells and inhibits the induction of iNOS at the level of transcription. Furthermore, NO is also produced by Th1 cells, whose proliferation can be inhibited by high concentrations of NO. Thus, apart from being a mediator of Th1/Th2 interaction, NO may also be an important self-regulatory molecule that prevents the over-expansion of Th1 cells which are implicated in a range of severe immunopathologies.
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PMID:Nitric oxide in infectious and autoimmune diseases. 872 41

We present the unusual case of 16-year-old girl who developed intractable convulsions five days after the onset of a cold. Meningeal signs, lymphopenia, proteinuria, and lupus anticoagulant were also present. Treatment with anticonvulsants, antituberculous agents, and adenine arabinoside were ineffective. The initiation of methylprednisolone pulse therapy immediately resolved convulsions and fever. The diagnosis, suggested by the clinical course and the marked improvement of the meningoencephalitis by pulse therapy, was an encephalitic form of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Clinical and laboratory findings indicated that an immune disorder may have triggered an abnormal response to a viral infection leading to this patient's neurologic disorder.
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PMID:Patient with both lupus anticoagulant and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. 889 67

Animal models of autoimmune disease have been successfully used to explore peripheral stem cell transfusion and bone marrow transplantation. Allogeneic marrow transplants have been shown to suppress lupus-like disease and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Autologous transplantation has also been successful in adjuvant arthritis. Operationally, these may be considered as graft versus autoimmunity effects. In humans, adoptive autoimmunity, in which the donor becomes apparent in the recipient, has been documented for myasthenia gravis and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Of 9 allogeneic bone marrow transplants for rheumatoid arthritis, 4 patients have done well for many years while one relapsed after 2 years. In 2 cases, autologous marrow transplant has been used specifically to treat autoimmune disease: one patient with CREST had only a transient response and one patient with myasthenia gravis had remission. While allogeneic bone marrow transplant is the most rational procedure, its use in nonmalignant disorders must be very carefully considered secondary to its toxicity and potential morbidity. The use of peripheral blood CD34+ cells with T cell depletion, may promise complete or partial longterm remission but results of this therapy need to be compared with other immunosuppressive combinations.
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PMID:Stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune disorders, with special reference to rheumatic diseases. 915 Jan 12

We have characterized the activation of the HPA axis in the chronic inflammatory stress model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Alteration in the hypothalamic control mechanism, where CRF is no longer the major corticotrophin-releasing factor, has been noted in a number of other immune-mediated disease models, including experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, eosinophilia myalgia syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and leishmaniasis. These changes occur in both the mouse and the rat, suggesting this may be a common mechanism to chronic immune activation. We have good evidence to suggest that AVP takes over as the major stimulator of the axis. The arthritic rat is unable to mount a response to acute stressors, such as restraint or ip hypertonic saline. However, these animals are able to mount a response to an acute immune challenge. These data provide further evidence for a differential activation of the HPA by acute stress or acute immune stimulation. This presumably reflects an adaptive response to the development of chronic inflammation. We have demonstrated that central neurotransmitter systems are able to influence the severity of peripheral inflammation. In particular we have shown that depletion of serotonin at the time of the development of the inflammatory episode reduces the severity of the inflammation. These findings suggest the possibility of novel therapeutic strategies targeting neurotransmitter systems to alleviate inflammation.
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PMID:The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in autoimmunity. 929 47

The patient, a 22-year-old woman who had been treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for 10 years, was hospitalized for arthralgia, melena, and difficulty in walking. CT examination of the brain showed grain-like high-density lesions scattered throughout the cerebral white matter and basal ganglia. At autopsy, multiple perivenous, well-demarcated foci of brownish discoloration were seen scattered throughout the cerebral white matter and basal ganglia. Histopathologically these lesions consisted of foci of coagulation necrosis surrounding the veins. The veins in the foci showed fibrous thickening of the walls, but there were no indications of vasculitis. At the periphery of the lesions, the axons were better preserved than their myelin sheaths. The neuropathological findings in the present case closely resemble those of acute disseminated (perivenous) encephalomyelitis, although an inflammatory cell infiltration had apparently already subsided. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, this finding should not be regarded as an incidental complication but rather as a rare subtype of central nervous system lesion occurring with SLE.
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PMID:Disseminated perivenous necrotizing encephalomyelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: report of an autopsy case. 954 99

Human autoimmune diseases are thought to develop through a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide linkage searches of autoimmune and inflammatory/immune disorders have identified a large number of non-major histocompatibility complex loci that collectively contribute to disease susceptibility. A comparison was made of the linkage results from 23 published autoimmune or immune-mediated disease genome-wide scans. Human diseases included multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, familial psoriasis, asthma, and type-I diabetes (IDDM). Experimental animal disease studies included murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, rat inflammatory arthritis, rat and murine IDDM, histamine sensitization, immunity to exogenous antigens, and murine lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus; SLE). A majority (approximately 65%) of the human positive linkages map nonrandomly into 18 distinct clusters. Overlapping of susceptibility loci occurs between different human immune diseases and by comparing conserved regions with experimental autoimmune/immune disease models. This nonrandom clustering supports a hypothesis that, in some cases, clinically distinct autoimmune diseases may be controlled by a common set of susceptibility genes.
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PMID:Clustering of non-major histocompatibility complex susceptibility candidate loci in human autoimmune diseases. 970 86


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