Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an indispensable role in the prevention of autoimmune disease, as interferon gamma (IFNγ) mediated, lethal auto-immunity occurs (in both mice and humans) in their absence. In addition, Tregs have been implicated in preventing the onset of autoimmune and auto-inflammatory conditions associated with aberrant IFNγ signaling such as type 1 diabetes, lupus, and lipopo...

The stiff-person syndrome is a disorder of persistent, painful muscle contractions predominately affecting the axial musculature. We describe a patient with this disorder and review its pathophysiology. Molecular biologic and immunologic techniques have recently added to the understanding of the mechanism of this disorder. Association with diseases such as diabetes, vitiligo and hypothyroidism ...

DEFINITION "Lupus" is Latin for wolf, and "erythematosus" refers to the red rash on a person's face that makes them look wolf-like. Lupus erythematosus is a chronic, inflammatory auto-immune disease that is more common than muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, leukemia, or multiple sclerosis. It is difficult to say what causes lupus, because autoimmune diseases are multifactorial with genetic, ...

an association between the sicca syndrome and inflammatory polyneuropathy, and lends further support to the hypothesis that, like the sicca syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus with which they are also associated,2 the inflammatory polyneuropathies have an auto-immune basis. Our patient developed a clinical neuropathy at a time when symptoms of the sicca syndrome were minimal. This finding...