%0 Journal Article
%T Involvement of dendritic cells in autoimmune diseases in children
%A Consuelo L¨®pez de Padilla
%A Ann M Reed
%J Pediatric Rheumatology
%D 2007
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1546-0096-5-16
%X Autoimmune disorders are chronic disabling disorders in which underlying defects in the immune response resulting in an inappropriate response to self-tissues. Collectively, autoimmune diseases are thought to affect approximately 14¨C22 million people in the United States, according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) representing greater than 80 unique disorders [1], which affect preferentially women.Autoimmune disorders in children are less common but important to diagnosis, as immunomodulating therapy can prevent considerable mobility and mortality, and improve the survival of many of these patients. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the loss of tolerance against self-determinants, activation of autoreactive lymphocytes and/or autoantibodies, with pathological damage that is organ specific or systemic.A clear understanding of the mechanisms by which autoimmune responses are triggered leading to the activation and/or induction of autoreactive lymphocytes and to the breakdown of immunological self-tolerance are not yet fully understood. Currently, multiple lines of evidence indicate that DCs may also participate in the onset of autoimmune diseases. [2-5]. Animal models show the transfer of DCs isolated from donors with acute autoimmune disease or propagated in vitro under conditions that induce maturation, generates a strong T helper (Th)-1 response, eventually culminating in autoimmune disease [6]. For instance, one of the hallmarks of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is the immune response to nuclear autoantigens. Several studies have proposed that DCs may acquire the nuclear autoantigens from the apoptotic cells to initiate the systemic autoimmune responses [7,8]. On the other hand, experimental models of diabetes in mice suggest that DCs may trigger autoimmunity by initiating a local or systemic response to an infective agent [9]. Increased numbers of DCs have been described in chronic a
%U http://www.ped-rheum.com/content/5/1/16