Expert review of clinical immunology
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Expert Rev Clin Immunol · May 2010
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis: a review of the clinical experience and a report of an international meeting.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), both allogeneic and autologous, has become one of the hottest topics in clinical immunology. One of the main autoimmune diseases in which HSCT has been extensively tried during the last decade is multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ Moreover, there is currently no completed controlled study with HSCT in MS. In this review, the cumulative experiences from several centers and countries in the world are summarized, based on the data presented at a recent international meeting in Moscow, Russia, entitled 'Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis: Sharing the Experience'.
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Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency that appears to be increasing in frequency. It affects males and females of all ages and ethnic groups. ⋯ Death, when it occurs, tends to be due to respiratory and/or cardiovascular compromise, but most of these fatalities can be prevented by appropriate avoidance measures and emergency management. The management of anaphylaxis is hampered by scientific and clinical uncertainty.
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Expert Rev Clin Immunol · Sep 2009
Prostate autoimmunity: from experimental models to clinical counterparts.
Different murine models of autoimmune prostatitis have been developed and characterized, proving the autoimmune origin of this pathology. Autoimmune prostatitis models have also provided a wealth of information on the mechanisms involved in disease development, shedding light on inciting autoantigens, regulatory and pathogenic T cells, and mediators of prostatic autoimmunity. ⋯ In this review, we will discuss evidence for the autoimmune origin of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and the chronic inflammatory nature of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The autoimmune pathogenesis of CP/CPPS and the chronic inflammation characteristic of BPH will be reviewed within the context of the recent demonstration that human prostate stromal cells from BPH tissue can act as antigen-presenting cells and are not only able to activate CD4(+) T lymphocytes, but can also produce IL-12 and IL-23, which are key cytokines for the induction of pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells.