Margolis L. Immunoactivation at the crossroads of human disease.
Am J Med 2015;
128:562-6. [PMID:
25637756 PMCID:
PMC4517936 DOI:
10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.12.026]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that immunoactivation, which evolved as a system of host defense against pathogens, can become dysregulated and promote the pathogenesis of diverse diseases with both known and unknown etiologies (eg, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, age-related macular degeneration, cancer, as well as aging). Immunoactivation seems to be a "common denominator" or general mechanism of pathogenesis and may explain the association and similarities in pathology among otherwise unrelated human diseases. Identification of general mechanisms of immunoactivation may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies applicable to many diseases even before detailed knowledge of specific etiology and pathogenesis may be available.
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