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Related Concept Videos

Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Autoimmune Disorders01:29

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. This results from an overactive immune response against substances and tissues normally present in the body. Let's delve into the concept and mechanism of autoimmune diseases from an immune system point of view, explore different causes and examples of such diseases, and discuss potential solutions.
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
04:44

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Published on: June 16, 2020

Systemic sclerosis and infections.

Silvia Bellando Randone1, Serena Guiducci, Marco Matucci Cerinic

  • 1Department of Biomedicine, DENOThe Centre, Division of Rheumatology AOUC, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. issis74@libero.it

Autoimmunity Reviews
|August 19, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Infectious agents like viruses may trigger systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease causing fibrosis. While a direct causal link is unproven, molecular mimicry and endothelial damage are key hypotheses in SSc pathogenesis.

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Vasodilation of Isolated Vessels and the Isolation of the Extracellular Matrix of Tight-skin Mice
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Vasodilation of Isolated Vessels and the Isolation of the Extracellular Matrix of Tight-skin Mice

Published on: March 24, 2017

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Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
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Published on: June 16, 2020

Vasodilation of Isolated Vessels and the Isolation of the Extracellular Matrix of Tight-skin Mice
08:09

Vasodilation of Isolated Vessels and the Isolation of the Extracellular Matrix of Tight-skin Mice

Published on: March 24, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organs, characterized by fibrosis and vascular damage.
  • Infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria, have been implicated as potential triggers for SSc development.
  • Theories suggest molecular mimicry, endothelial cell infection, superantigens, and microchimeric cells contribute to SSc pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential role of infectious agents in initiating systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  • To review pathogenic hypotheses linking infections to SSc, focusing on molecular mimicry and endothelial cell damage.
  • To assess the current evidence for a causal association between infections and SSc.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating infectious agents and SSc.
  • Analysis of pathogenic mechanisms including molecular mimicry and endothelial cell involvement.
  • Evaluation of evidence supporting or refuting a direct causal link between infections and SSc.

Main Results:

  • Several infectious agents (e.g., Parvovirus B19, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Retroviruses) have been proposed as potential SSc triggers.
  • Molecular mimicry between viral antigens and autoantibody targets is a plausible mechanism for initiating autoimmune responses in SSc.
  • Evidence linking specific infections directly to SSc causation remains inconclusive, but synergistic effects are possible.

Conclusions:

  • While a definitive causal link between infections and systemic sclerosis is not established, infectious agents remain strong candidates for triggering the disease.
  • Mechanisms such as molecular mimicry and infectious-induced endothelial damage are critical areas of ongoing research in SSc.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of infectious agents and their products in the complex pathogenesis of SSc.