AUTOIMMUNITY

J Immunol. 2018 Oct 29. pii: ji1701487. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701487.[Epub ahead of print]...

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is characterised by B cell abnormalities and immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands.1 2 Among the reported genetic polymorphisms associated with primary SS (pSS), the FAM167A-BLK locus distinguishes itself as an...

Data Descriptor...

Aim The aim of this manuscript is to describe the development of the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC) cohort. Method The APLC cohort is an ongoing, prospective longitudinal cohort. Adult patients who meet either the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Modified Classification Criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Classification Criteria, and provide informed consent are recruited into the cohort. Patients are routinely followed up at 3‐ to 6‐monthly intervals. Information on demographics, clinical manifestations, treatment, pathology results, outcomes, and patient‐reported quality of life (Short‐form 36 version 2) are collected using a standardized case report form. Each site is responsible for obtaining local ethics and governance approval, patient recruitment, data collection, and data transfer into a centralized APLC database. Results The latest APLC cohort comprises 2160 patients with >12 000 visits from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. The APLC has proposed the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) as a treat‐to‐target (T2T) endpoint, and reported several retrospective and cross‐sectional analyses consistent with the validity of LLDAS. Longitudinal validation of LLDAS as a T2T endpoint is currently underway. Conclusion The APLC cohort is one of the largest contemporary SLE patient cohorts in the world. It is the only cohort with substantial representation of Asian patients. This cohort represents a unique resource for future clinical research including evaluation of other endpoints and quality of care.

Background/Purpose: We showed previously that complement activation – cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPS) or multi-analyte assay panel (MAP) – is a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2018 Nov 9. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2019.1546578.[Epub ahead of print]...

There has been intense debate over the immunological basis of schizophrenia, and the potential utility of adjunct immunotherapies. The major histocompatibility complex is consistently the most powerful region of association in genome-wide association ...

RMD Open. 2018 Oct 18;4(Suppl 1):e000789. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2018-000789. eCollection 2018.

Alterations in macrophage polarisation are recognised among the possible immune system abnormalities contributing to systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis.1 Macrophages have been classified as classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated, although growing evidence indicates that they may...

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Precision medicine has emerged as a mantra for therapeutic approaches to complex diseases. The defining concept relies on a detailed insight into disease pathogenesis and therapeutic mechanism. Although the type 1 diabetes field has gained new insights into disease endotypes and indications of efficacy for several therapies, none of these is yet licensed, partly because of immune suppressive side-effects beyond control of islet autoimmunity. New strategies designed to regulate the immune system continue to emerge as basic science discoveries are made, including the use of antigen-based immunotherapies. A single agent or approach seems unlikely to halt disease progression in all people with or at risk of type 1 diabetes; as such, tailored methods relying on patient subgroups and knowledge of disease endotypes are gaining attention. Recent insights into disease mechanisms and emerging trial data are being translated into opportunities for tissue-specific prevention of progressive loss of β-cell function and survival. Results so far point to feasibility, safety, and tolerability of administration of islet autoantigens and peptides thereof into recipients with or at risk of type 1 diabetes. Findings from mechanistic studies suggest favourable changes in islet autoimmunity, with signs of immune regulation. Major challenges remain, including those related to dose and dosing frequency, route of administration, and use of adjuvants. However, the first steps towards tissue-specific and personalised medicine in type 1 diabetes have been made, which will guide future studies into induction of immune tolerance to intervene in the initiation and progression of islet autoimmunity and disease.

Anti- N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a common autoimmune encephalitis presenting with psychosis, dyskinesias, autonomic dysfunction and seizures. The underlying autoantibodies...

Various cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-17, are augmented, and autoreactive T cells and B cells are activated in the immune pathogenesis of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). In particular, IFNs are involved in both the early stages of innate immunity by high level of type I...

Antibody-independent B cell effector functions play an important role in the
development and suppression of the immune response. An extensive body of data
on cytokine regulation of the immune response by B lymphocytes has been
accumulated over the past ...