Immunologie / Polyarthritis.

The fundamental problem facing scientists and clinicians in Rheumatology is that so little is known about the biology of joints. It is our view that a real interface between basic and clinical science offers the best chance of gaining a better understanding of arthritis and in this book we aim to provide a basis for such an interface. Each chapter provides a lucid account of the current literature, reflecting the eminence of each author in their own field. The contributors offer a variety of modern approaches to the study of inflammatory joint disease, illustrating some of the exciting opportunities for research which exist. We hope that those who share our view find these pages informative and stimulating. University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1987. JOHN A. GOODACRE W. CARSON DICK ix 1 • Polymorphonuclear leukocytes In acute inflammation O. T. G. JONES and A. R. CROSS INTRODUCTION The nonnal function of the professional phagocytes - polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), monocytes, macrophages and eosinophils - is to protect the individual from microbial infection by seeking out and destroying the invading microbes. In order to perform this function effectively the phagocyte must move towards sites of infection, recognize, phagocytose, kill and digest the microbe and, if necessary, recruit other cells to assist. These phagocytic cells possess a membrane-bound enzyme system which can be activated to produce toxic oxygen radicals in response to a wide variety of stimuli.

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is incompletely understood. HLA class II alleles and T cells have been implicated for many years. The discovery of anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs), along with the effectiveness of biological treatments targeting cytokines, such as TNF-?, IL-6, and also T cells and B cells, reinforced the pathogenetic role of the respective factors. ACPAs, induced by cigarette smoking and periodontitis in individuals with HLA-DRB1 shared epitope, appear to be autoantigens that initiate the inflammatory immune response in RA. MicroRNAs, part of epigenetic mechanisms, which also include DNA methylation, and histone modification, as well as microbiota, the composition of microbes in body cavities, also appear to influence arthritis and are discussed in this book.

The book Immunopathogenesis and Immune-Based Therapy for Selected Autoimmune Disorders is a synthesis work that discusses two main aspects of autoimmunity: Immunopathogenesis and therapeutic approaches essentially based on the immunotherapies. This book deals with different topics on a number of autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes, autoimmune cardiomyopathy, autoimmunity of gastrointestinal tract, systemic sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. This book will be useful to clinicians, biologists, researchers, teachers, and students who are interested in immunology and immunopathology.

Arthritis has a high prevalence globally and includes over 100 different types, the most common of which are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis. The exact etiology of arthritis remains unclear and no cure exists. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used in the treatment of arthritis but are associated with significant side effects. Novel modes of therapy and additional prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed for arthritis patients. This book summarizes and discusses the global picture of the current understanding of arthritis.

This book provides a fundamental understanding of immunopathology and immunopathologic processes, with particular attention to nonclinical toxicology studies. Chapters provide organ system–based summaries of spontaneous pathology and common responses to xenobiotics. A companion volume, Immunopathology in Toxicology and Drug Development: Volume 1, Immunobiology, Investigative Techniques, and Special Studies, offers an overview of general immunobiology, cells of the immune system, signaling and effector molecules, and immunopathology assays. These informative and strategic books were created in response to the large segment of drug development that focuses on chronic diseases, many of which involve alterations to the immune system. Therapies that target these diseases commonly involve some form of immunomodulation. As a result, the two volumes of Immunopathology in Toxicology and Drug Development are critical texts for individuals involved in diverse aspects of drug development. Readers will acquire a thorough understanding of immunopathology for detection and accurate interpretation of pathologic effects of xenobiotics on the immune system.