Abstract
The immune system has evolved sophisticate mechanisms controlling the development of responses to dangerous antigens while avoiding unnecessary attacks to innocuous, commensal or self antigens. The risk of autoimmunity is continuously checked and balanced against the risk of succumbing to exogenous infectious agents. It is therefore of paramount importance to understand the molecular events linking the breakdown of tolerance and the development of immunodeficiency. Apoptotic mechanisms are used to regulate the development of thymocytes, the shaping of T cell repertoire, its selection and the coordinate events leading to immune responses in the periphery. Moreover, they are at the heart of the homeostatic controls restoring T cell numbers and establishing T cell memory. T lymphocytes shift continuously from survival to death signals to ensure immune responsiveness without incurring in autoimmune damage. In this review we shall consider some key facts on the relationship of lymphopenia to autoreactivity, the mechanisms controlling positive and negative selection in the thymus, the role of apoptosis in selected primary immunodeficiency states and in systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity, with examples from human diseases and their animal models.
Keywords: Thymus, immunodeficiency, apoptosis, selection, autoimmunity, homeostasis, cytokines
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Apoptosis in the Homeostasis of the Immune System and in Human Immune Mediated Diseases
Volume: 14 Issue: 3
Author(s): R. Paganelli, A. Giovannetti, M. Pierdominici, A. Di Iorio, R. Cianci, G. Murdaca, F. Puppo and F. Pandolfi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Thymus, immunodeficiency, apoptosis, selection, autoimmunity, homeostasis, cytokines
Abstract: The immune system has evolved sophisticate mechanisms controlling the development of responses to dangerous antigens while avoiding unnecessary attacks to innocuous, commensal or self antigens. The risk of autoimmunity is continuously checked and balanced against the risk of succumbing to exogenous infectious agents. It is therefore of paramount importance to understand the molecular events linking the breakdown of tolerance and the development of immunodeficiency. Apoptotic mechanisms are used to regulate the development of thymocytes, the shaping of T cell repertoire, its selection and the coordinate events leading to immune responses in the periphery. Moreover, they are at the heart of the homeostatic controls restoring T cell numbers and establishing T cell memory. T lymphocytes shift continuously from survival to death signals to ensure immune responsiveness without incurring in autoimmune damage. In this review we shall consider some key facts on the relationship of lymphopenia to autoreactivity, the mechanisms controlling positive and negative selection in the thymus, the role of apoptosis in selected primary immunodeficiency states and in systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity, with examples from human diseases and their animal models.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Paganelli R., Giovannetti A., Pierdominici M., Iorio Di A., Cianci R., Murdaca G., Puppo F. and Pandolfi F., Apoptosis in the Homeostasis of the Immune System and in Human Immune Mediated Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208783413310
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208783413310 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Genetic Chemoprotection with Mutant O6-Alkylguanine-DNA-Alkyltransferases
Current Gene Therapy A New Antitumor Agent, (3-chloro-7-methoxyfuro[2,3-b]-quinolin-4-yl)-(4-methoxyphenyl) amine, Loaded in Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Characterization and Pharmacokinetics
Current Nanoscience Epidemiology and Prevention of Viral Infections in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Molecular Diagnosis in Autoimmune Skin Blistering Conditions
Current Molecular Medicine Immunological Aspects of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL), a Possible Neoplasm of Regulatory T-Cells
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) S1P Regulation of Macrophage Functions in the Context of Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cytochrome P450-Activated Prodrugs: Targeted Drug Delivery
Current Medicinal Chemistry Incidentally Detected Increased FDG Uptake in Bowel and its Correlation with Hystopathological Data: Our Experience in a Case Series Study
Current Radiopharmaceuticals A Novel Technology for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion Using Combination of Nanofiber and Growth Factors
Recent Patents on Nanotechnology Anesthesia for Bronchoscopy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Potential Roles of Eosinophils in Cancer Therapy: Epidemiological Studies, Experimental Models, and Clinical Pathology
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Methotrexate: A Drug of the Future in Ulcerative Colitis?
Current Drug Targets Cyclotron Production of PET Radiometals in Liquid Targets: Aspects and Prospects
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Success of Inhaled Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Non-Asthmatic Respiratory Diseases
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Proteasome Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy
Current Drug Targets Combination Platinum-based and DNA Damage Response-targeting Cancer Therapy: Evolution and Future Directions
Current Medicinal Chemistry Radiation-Induced Extracranial Carotid Stenosis
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) The Central Role of Leukotriene B4 in Epstein Barr Virus Activated Innate Immunity In Vitro
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Angiogenesis in Lymphoma: A Short Review
Current Molecular Medicine Mechlorethamine based Drug Structures for Intervention of Central Nervous System Tumors
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry