Alarmins in autoimmune diseases.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Autoimmunity
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Alarmins are endogenous proteins released during non-programmed cell death, acting as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).
• These molecules can induce sterile inflammation and have been increasingly linked to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the role of alarmins in systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases.
• To explore potential therapeutic implications of targeting alarmin pathways in autoimmune conditions.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of approximately 160 articles.
• Focus on systemic autoimmune diseases: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, ANCA-associated vasculitides, Behçet's disease.
• Focus on cutaneous organ-specific autoimmune diseases: vitiligo, psoriasis, alopecia, pemphigus.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests a significant role for various alarmins in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases.
• Specific alarmins are implicated in both systemic and cutaneous autoimmune conditions, highlighting their broad impact.

Conclusions:

• Alarmins are key players in the inflammatory processes underlying autoimmune diseases.
• Identifying alarmin receptors and signaling pathways offers promising avenues for developing novel therapeutic inhibitors and agonists.
• Targeting alarmin-related pathways holds potential for modulating autoimmune disease progression.