Update on immunopathogenesis in inflammatory myopathies

Previous studies on myositis have suggested that these disorders are autoim mune in nature, and have provided evidence that myositis-specific autoantib odies and autoreactive T cells are present in affected patients. Recent stu dies provide evidence for the upregulation of various immunologically relev ant cell surface molecules, cytokines, and chemokines, suggesting active ce ll-cell interactions. Understanding these interactions may provide novel th erapeutic targets in these diseases. The role of skeletal muscle cells and their contribution to the immune response has become more important as a re sult of the advent of therapeutic strategies such as myoblast implantation, DNA vaccination, and gene therapy for various disease conditions. Understa nding the immunologic capabilities of skeletal muscle cells may provide imp ortant clues not only to the mechanisms of the autoimmune response, but als o to the use of skeletal muscle as the site of transgene expression to corr ect genetic defects. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2001, 13:461-468 (C) 2001 Lippinco tt Williams & Wilkins, Inc.