自己免疫疾患の病態解明に向けた多角的研究

Immune cells normally attack exogenous bacteria or viruses without harming the body's cells or tissues. However, any abnormality in these immune cells could consequently result in cell or tissue damage of various organs, including the pancreas, salivary glands, and joints as the targets of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases result from complex and multigenic phenotypes that affect by a variety of genetic and environmental or stochastic factors. Fundamental treatments for autoimmune diseases have not yet been established. In this review, we introduce the following: (1) useful animal models for Sjögren's syndrome (SS), (2) the critical role of estrogen in autoimmunity, (3) the influence of environmental hormones on autoimmunity, (4) the cell signaling in autoimmunity, and (5) the therapeutic strategy for autoimmune disease.