Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis

Studies of autoimmune diseases have not yet elucidated why certain organs or vessels become the objects of injury while others are spared. This paper will explore the hypothesis that important differences exist in regions of the aorta that determine vulnerability...

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Main Author: Gary S. Hoffman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2004-01-01
Series:Clinical and Developmental Immunology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17402520400001652
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author Gary S. Hoffman
author_facet Gary S. Hoffman
author_sort Gary S. Hoffman
collection DOAJ
description Studies of autoimmune diseases have not yet elucidated why certain organs or vessels become the objects of injury while others are spared. This paper will explore the hypothesis that important differences exist in regions of the aorta that determine vulnerability to diseases, such as atherosclerosis, aortitis, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's disease. The reader is invited to reassess; (1) whether the aorta is indeed a single homogeneous structure, and (2) whether the initial stage of aortitis (and indeed other diseases considered “autoimmune”) may be primarily due to acquired alterations of substrate, that influence unique immune profiles, which by themselves may not be pathogenic. Disease susceptibility and patterns are influenced by many factors that are inborn and acquired. Examples include genetic background, gender, ethnicity, aging, prior and concomitant illnesses, habits, diet, toxin and environmental exposures. Studies of vascular diseases must assess how such variables may affect regional differences in endothelial cells, subendothelial matrix, vascular smooth muscle and the response of each to a variety of stimuli.
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spelling doaj-art-05a22e79b30243b785d41214423ee1c62025-02-03T01:03:48ZengWileyClinical and Developmental Immunology1740-25221740-25302004-01-01113-427527910.1080/17402520400001652Determinants of Vessel Targeting in VasculitisGary S. Hoffman0Harold C. Schott Chair of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Director, Center for Vasculitis Care and Research, Cleveland, OH, USAStudies of autoimmune diseases have not yet elucidated why certain organs or vessels become the objects of injury while others are spared. This paper will explore the hypothesis that important differences exist in regions of the aorta that determine vulnerability to diseases, such as atherosclerosis, aortitis, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's disease. The reader is invited to reassess; (1) whether the aorta is indeed a single homogeneous structure, and (2) whether the initial stage of aortitis (and indeed other diseases considered “autoimmune”) may be primarily due to acquired alterations of substrate, that influence unique immune profiles, which by themselves may not be pathogenic. Disease susceptibility and patterns are influenced by many factors that are inborn and acquired. Examples include genetic background, gender, ethnicity, aging, prior and concomitant illnesses, habits, diet, toxin and environmental exposures. Studies of vascular diseases must assess how such variables may affect regional differences in endothelial cells, subendothelial matrix, vascular smooth muscle and the response of each to a variety of stimuli.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17402520400001652
spellingShingle Gary S. Hoffman
Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
Clinical and Developmental Immunology
title Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
title_full Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
title_fullStr Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
title_short Determinants of Vessel Targeting in Vasculitis
title_sort determinants of vessel targeting in vasculitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17402520400001652
work_keys_str_mv AT garyshoffman determinantsofvesseltargetinginvasculitis