Browsing by Subject "Behcet disease"

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Open Access
Circulating LL37 targets plasma extracellular vesicles to immune cells and intensifies Behçet's disease severity
(Taylor and Francis, 2017-02) Kahraman, T.; Gucluler, G.; Simsek, I.; Yagci, F. C.; Yildirim, M.; Ozen, C.; Dinc, A.; Gursel, M.; Ikromzoda, L.; Sutlu, T.; Gay, S.; Gursel, I.
Behçet's disease (BD) activity is characterised by sustained, over-exuberant immune activation, yet the underlying mechanisms leading to active BD state are poorly defined. Herein, we show that the human cathelicidin derived antimicrobial peptide LL37 associates with and directs plasma extracellular vesicles (EV) to immune cells, thereby leading to enhanced immune activation aggravating BD pathology. Notably, disease activity was correlated with elevated levels of circulating LL37 and EV plasma concentration. Stimulation of healthy PBMC with active BD patient EVs induced heightened IL1β, IFNα, IL6 and IP10 secretion compared to healthy and inactive BD EVs. Remarkably, when mixed with LL37, healthy plasma-EVs triggered a robust immune activation replicating the pathology inducing properties of BD EVs. The findings of this study could be of clinical interest in the management of BD, implicating LL37/EV association as one of the major contributors of BD pathogenesis.
Open Access
Genetic analysis of MEFV gene pyrin domain in patients with Behçet's disease
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2006) Dursun, A.; Durakbasi-Dursun, H. G.; Zamani, A. G.; Gulbahar, Z. G.; Dursun, R.; Yakicier, C.
Objectives. Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis with recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis. MEFV gene, which is the main factor in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), is also reported to be a susceptibility gene for BD. The pyrin domain of MEFV gene is a member of death-domain superfamily and has been proposed to regulate inflammatory signaling in myeloid cells. This study was designed to determine if mutations in pyrin domain of MEFV gene are involved in BD. Methods. We analyzed the pyrin domain of MEFV gene in 54 Turkish patients with BD by PCR-analysis and direct sequencing. Results. Neither deletion or insertion mutations nor point mutations in pyrin domain were found in any patient. Conclusion. Although pyrin gene mutations have been reported in patients with BD, pyrin domain is not mutated. However, alterations in other regions of MEFV gene and interaction between pyrin domains are needed to be further investigated. Copyright © 2006 Ahmet Dursun et al.
Open Access
MEFV gene is a probable susceptibility gene for Behçet's disease
(Taylor & Francis, 2005) Imirzalıoglu, N.; Dursun, A.; Tastan, B.; Soysal, Y.; Yakıcıer, M. C.
Objective: Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare, chronic, multisystem inflammatory disorder. The prevalence of BD is higher in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean populations. Another chronic inflammatory disease, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), is also known to be highly prevalent in these populations. The prevalence of BD is higher in the FMF patient population than in populations known to be rich in BD. Both BD and FMF have some pathophysiological features in common and they result from inappropriate activation of neutrophils. Clinical manifestations of both diseases can mimic each other and the coexistence of both diseases in the same patient has been reported. Given that BD and FMF have similar pathophysiological, epidemiological, and clinical features, we hypothesized that the gene responsible for FMF, MEFV, may also play a role in the pathogenesis of BD. Methods: Forty-two BD patients who had no symptoms and family history for FMF and 66 healthy controls were screened for common MEFV gene mutations (E148Q, M680I, M694V, and V726A). Results: Fifteen patients (36%) displayed MEFV mutations (nine M694V, five E148Q, and one M680I) and mutation rates were significantly elevated compared to 66 (11%) healthy controls (p=0.0034). Conclusion: The occurrence of frequent MEFV mutations in BD patients suggests that the MEFV gene is involved in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.