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State of the art: what we know about infectious agents and myositis

Lu Gan1, Frederick W Miller

  • 1National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Current Opinion in Rheumatology
|September 3, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Infections may trigger idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) in genetically susceptible individuals. Ongoing research and new technologies are improving our understanding of infections

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are autoimmune disorders potentially triggered by environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals.
  • Infections are increasingly recognized as potential initiators of IIMs, alongside causing direct infectious myopathies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on the role of infections in the development of inflammatory muscle diseases.
  • To highlight recent findings and emerging technologies relevant to IIM pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of case reports, epidemiological studies, and animal models.
  • Inclusion of studies on novel infectious agents and advanced diagnostic technologies.

Main Results:

  • Various infectious agents have been associated with IIM development.
  • Torque teno virus (TTV) and Borna disease virus (BDV) are among recently implicated agents.
  • New animal models using Leishmania infantum and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have been developed.
  • High-throughput methods and gene expression analysis are advancing pathogen identification.

Conclusions:

  • The etiology of IIMs remains complex due to their rarity and heterogeneity.
  • While definitive causal links are not yet established, accumulating evidence suggests infections play a role.
  • Novel technologies offer promise for future understanding and potential interventions in IIMs.

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