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Autoimmunity and Environment: Am I at risk?

Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology volume 42, pages 199–212 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The complex interplay between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility plays an essential role in disease pathogenesis. This is especially true for autoimmunity, where clinical reports, genomic and epidemiological studies, as well as animal models have identified several environmental and genetic risk factors associated with autoimmune disease. The complexity of this relationship is demonstrated by the vast array of environmental factors that have now been implicated in the induction, and possibly the maintenance of autoimmune disease. The multitude of environmental factors implicated includes both infectious and non-infectious agents. Here, we review one specific autoimmune disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), as a model for environmental risk factors acting in concert with genetic susceptibility in the disease pathogenesis. PBC is an ideal model, as both infectious and non-infectious environmental agents have been identified as risk factors, and their study provides clues for unravelling the pathogenesis of the disease.

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Abbreviations

AMA:

Anti-mitochondrial antibodies

ANA:

Anti-nuclear antibodies

E. coli :

Escherichia coli

FDR:

First-degree relatives

HRT:

Hormone replacement therapy

ER:

Estrogen receptor

PBC:

Primary biliary cirrhosis

PDC:

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

RA:

Rheumatoid arthritis

SLE:

Systemic lupus erythematosus

UC:

Ulcerative colitis

UPEC:

Uropathogenic E. coli

UTI:

Urinary tract infection

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College London School of Medicine at King’s College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK

    Daniel Smyk, Harold Baum, Diego Vergani & Dimitrios P. Bogdanos

  2. Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly Medical School, 41222 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece

    Eirini I. Rigopoulou

  3. The Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, and University Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK

    Andrew K. Burroughs

  4. Liver Immunopathology and Liver Immunodiagnostics, Institute of Liver Studies and Liver Unit, King’s College London School of Medicine at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill Campus, London, SE5 9RS, UK

    Dimitrios P. Bogdanos

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  1. Daniel Smyk
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  2. Eirini I. Rigopoulou
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  3. Harold Baum
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  4. Andrew K. Burroughs
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  5. Diego Vergani
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  6. Dimitrios P. Bogdanos
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Correspondence to Dimitrios P. Bogdanos.

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Smyk, D., Rigopoulou, E.I., Baum, H. et al. Autoimmunity and Environment: Am I at risk?. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 42, 199–212 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-011-8259-x

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Keywords

  • AMA
  • Genetics
  • Estrogen
  • PBC
  • Risk factors
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Xenobiotics

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