Open AccessImmunopathogenesis of granulomas in chronic autoinflammatory diseases
Author(s) -
Timmermans Wilhelmina Maria Cornelia,
van Laar Jan Alexander Michael,
van Hagen Petrus Martinus,
van Zelm Menno Cornelis
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1038/cti.2016.75
Subject(s) - sarcoidosis , immune system , granuloma , tuberculosis , immunology , pathogenesis , common variable immunodeficiency , medicine , disease , mycobacterium tuberculosis , pathology , antibody
Granulomas are clusters of immune cells. These structures can be formed in reaction to infection and display signs of necrosis, such as in tuberculosis. Alternatively, in several immune disorders, such as sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease and common variable immunodeficiency, non‐caseating granulomas are formed without an obvious infectious trigger. Despite advances in our understanding of the human immune system, the pathogenesis underlying these non‐caseating granulomas in chronic inflammatory diseases is still poorly understood. Here, we review the current knowledge about the immunopathogenesis of granulomas, and we discuss how the involved immune cells can be targeted with novel therapeutics.