Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders

Progress in basic and clinical immunology within the last two decades has provided profound insight into the immune system and its role in preventing endogenous and exogenous damage. In contrast, disbalances within this system can result in autoimmune disorders which may affect diverse organs and result in distinct clinical pictures. In many of these, however, the individual etiopathogenetic mechanisms are poorly understood and even more their clinical symptoms are hard to treat.The book offers insight into basic mechanisms of autoimmune disorders. It includes neurological, gastrointestinal, ophthalmological and skin diseases as well as current and future therapeutic options including immunomodulatory drugs and different vaccination strategies. By addressing diverse organ systems, both singular and shared features are elaborated. Thus an exchange of ideas is intended across research on single organ systems within a truly interdisciplinary setting.

Interdisciplinary aspects of autoimmune disorders

Definitive T cell epitope mapping for a human disease: gluten challenge in coeliac disease identifies a dominant transglutaminase-deamidated T cell epitope.- On the extrapolation from animal models to human disease for the design of immunotherapy in autoimmune diabetes.- Use of olfactory ensheathing cells as candidates for transplant-mediated repair of central nervous system lesions.- Advances in understanding and use of autoantibodies as markers of diseases.- Leflunomide therapy for autoimmune diseases.- Immunotherapy for ocular inflammatory disease.- Advances in immunosuppressive treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.- Significance of ?? T lymphocytes in autoimmune diseases.- Treatment of autoimmune diseases by targeted DNA vaccines encoding proinflammatory mediators.- Immunosuppressive treatment of rheumatic diseases during pregnancy.- Persistence of maternal and fetal cells in autoimmune diseases.- Therapeutic aspects of autoimmune diseases of the skin.- Long-term effects of T cell vaccination in multiple sclerosis.- Plasmid-mediated delivery of antigens or biological response modifiers as means to suppress autoimmunity.- Intravenous immunoglobulins for the treatment of childhood autoimmune diseases.