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Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of Immune Cells 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 2211

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Faculty of Biology, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, 24 Tsar Assen Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: cell biology; immunology; immunomodulation; biomarkers; autoimmune diseases; allergy; cytotoxicity; anticancer activity; natural products; probiotics; prebiotics; nanoparticles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The human body constantly interacts with other organisms and with the environment. Such interactions allow the body to recognize beneficial influences from harmful influences, as well as what is its own and what is foreign. This is achieved through the immune system, which is a complex network of specialized cells and organs. Therefore, immune system cells are in a continuous "dance with different partners". The frequent "switching of partners" can lead to the immune system being unable to distinguish between self and non-self, which can initiate the development of autoimmune diseases. There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases, some of which are more common and well studied (such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and lupus), although others are rare. Interestingly, the etiology of most autoimmune diseases remains a mystery.

In this Special Issue, the key word is "change", i.e., changes in key molecules during disease-versus-normal states. We discuss changes in antigens, molecular interactions, antibody production, cell signaling, or tissue/organ structures which are associated with the initiation, development, or progression of autoimmune diseases. The development of therapeutic agents that target signaling pathways and lead to changes in T-cell or humoral immune responses will also be considered.

More published papers could be found in the closed Special Issue: Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of the Immune Cells.

Prof. Dr. Balik Dzhambazov
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • autoimmune diseases
  • antigens/autoantigens
  • post-translational modifications
  • antigen processing and presentation
  • shared epitopes
  • molecular mimicry
  • autoantibodies
  • immune signaling
  • animal models
  • therapeutic agents

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5709 KiB  
Article
Study on the Treatment of ITP Mice with IVIG Sourced from Distinct Sex-Special Plasma (DSP-IVIG)
by Wei Zhang, Xin Yuan, Zongkui Wang, Jixuan Xu, Shengliang Ye, Peng Jiang, Xi Du, Fengjuan Liu, Fangzhao Lin, Rong Zhang, Li Ma and Changqing Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms242115993 - 06 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1487
Abstract
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a first-line drug prepared from human plasma for the treatment of autoimmune diseases (AIDs), especially immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Significant differences exist in protein types and expression levels between male and female plasma, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases varies [...] Read more.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a first-line drug prepared from human plasma for the treatment of autoimmune diseases (AIDs), especially immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Significant differences exist in protein types and expression levels between male and female plasma, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases varies between sexes. The present study seeks to explore potential variations in IVIG sourced from distinct sex-specific plasma (DSP-IVIG), including IVIG sourced from female plasma (F-IVIG), IVIG sourced from male plasma (M-IVIG), and IVIG sourced from a blend of male and female plasma (Mix-IVIG). To address this question, we used an ITP mouse model and a monocyte–macrophage inflammation model treated with DSP IVIG. The analysis of proteomics in mice suggested that the pathogenesis and treatment of ITP may involve FcγRs mediated phagocytosis, apoptosis, Th17, cytokines, chemokines, and more. Key indicators, including the mouse spleen index, CD16+ macrophages, M1, M2, IL-6, IL-27, and IL-13, all indicated that the efficacy in improving ITP was highest for M-IVIG. Subsequent cell experiments revealed that M-IVIG exhibited a more potent ability to inhibit monocyte phagocytosis. It induced more necrotic M2 cells and fewer viable M2, resulting in weaker M2 phagocytosis. M-IVIG also demonstrated superiority in the downregulation of surface makers CD36, CD68, and CD16 on M1 macrophages, a weaker capacity to activate complement, and a stronger binding ability to FcγRs on the THP-1 surface. In summary, DSP-IVIG effectively mitigated inflammation in ITP mice and monocytes and macrophages. However, M-IVIG exhibited advantages in improving the spleen index, regulating the number and typing of M1 and M2 macrophages, and inhibiting macrophage-mediated inflammation compared to F-IVIG and Mix-IVIG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of Immune Cells 2.0)
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Review

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17 pages, 374 KiB  
Review
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias: Classifications, Pathophysiology, Diagnoses and Management
by Melika Loriamini, Christine Cserti-Gazdewich and Donald R. Branch
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4296; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms25084296 - 12 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Autoimmune hemolytic anemias (AIHAs) are conditions involving the production of antibodies against one’s own red blood cells (RBCs). These can be primary with unknown cause or secondary (by association with diseases or infections). There are several different categories of AIHAs recognized according to [...] Read more.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemias (AIHAs) are conditions involving the production of antibodies against one’s own red blood cells (RBCs). These can be primary with unknown cause or secondary (by association with diseases or infections). There are several different categories of AIHAs recognized according to their features in the direct antiglobulin test (DAT). (1) Warm-antibody AIHA (wAIHA) exhibits a pan-reactive IgG autoantibody recognizing a portion of band 3 (wherein the DAT may be positive with IgG, C3d or both). Treatment involves glucocorticoids and steroid-sparing agents and may consider IVIG or monoclonal antibodies to CD20, CD38 or C1q. (2) Cold-antibody AIHA due to IgMs range from cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS) to cold agglutin disease (CAD). These are typically specific to the Ii blood group system, with the former (CAS) being polyclonal and the latter (CAD) being a more severe and monoclonal entity. The DAT in either case is positive only with C3d. Foundationally, the patient is kept warm, though treatment for significant complement-related outcomes may, therefore, capitalize on monoclonal options against C1q or C5. (3) Mixed AIHA, also called combined cold and warm AIHA, has a DAT positive for both IgG and C3d, with treatment approaches inclusive of those appropriate for wAIHA and cold AIHA. (4) Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH), also termed Donath–Landsteiner test-positive AIHA, has a DAT positive only for C3d, driven upstream by a biphasic cold-reactive IgG antibody recruiting complement. Although usually self-remitting, management may consider monoclonal antibodies to C1q or C5. (5) Direct antiglobulin test-negative AIHA (DAT-neg AIHA), due to IgG antibody below detection thresholds in the DAT, or by non-detected IgM or IgA antibodies, is managed as wAIHA. (6) Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) appears as wAIHA with DAT IgG and/or C3d. Some cases may resolve after ceasing the instigating drug. (7) Passenger lymphocyte syndrome, found after transplantation, is caused by B-cells transferred from an antigen-negative donor whose antibodies react with a recipient who produces antigen-positive RBCs. This comprehensive review will discuss in detail each of these AIHAs and provide information on diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment modalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of Immune Cells 2.0)
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