Mycobacteria and autoimmunity

Lupus. 2015 Apr;24(4-5):374-81. doi: 10.1177/0961203314559634.

Abstract

Mycobacterial infections can cause a variety of different manifestations. The increasing incidence of these infections worldwide brought another medical dilemma: immunological manifestations characterized by the presence of many autoantibodies and concomitant presence of autoimmune diseases. The burden of tuberculosis reactivation that emerged with immunosuppressive therapy worsened with the growing use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). This review will address the relationship between the immune system and mycobacteria.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; autoantibodies; immunosuppressive therapies; molecular mimicry; mycobacteria; nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Autoimmunity*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Mycobacterium / pathogenicity*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents