Ricerc@Sapienza

The human leukocyte antigen class I gene HLA-B27 is the strongest risk factor for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory arthritic disorder. More recently, the Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase (ERAP) 1 and 2 genes have been identified by genome wide association studies (GWAS) as additional susceptibility factors. In the ER, these aminopeptidases trim the peptides to a length suitable to fit into the groove of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) may occur associated with celiac disease (CD). Regulatory B cells (Breg) subsets have been shown to
play a significant role in autoimmune processes. Therefore, we have characterized their distribution in the peripheral blood
obtained from 10 patients with isolated HT, 10 patients with HT+ CD, 9 patients with isolated CD, and 9 healthy donors (HD).
Th17 cells were significantly increased in patients with HT and in patients bearing both HT and CD, while patients with

Background: Recently, significant attention has been paid to the possible activation of an autoimmune response in the presence of obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the frequencies of autoantibodies typical of autoimmune diabetes in obese patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and controls. We also evaluated the presence of immunoreactivity to Hashimoto's thyroiditis and autoimmune gastritis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder defined ‘vascular’ disease1 due to early defective angiogenesis ending in severe multiorgan fibrosis.2 Biomarker(s) mirroring early microvascular derangements in SSc,3 potentially useful for very early diagnosis, are lacking.