Biomaterial Database

Inflammatory myopathies: disease mechanisms. 2009

Steven A Greenberg

Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. sagreenberg@partners.org

OBJECTIVE Recent developments pertaining to disease mechanisms in the inflammatory myopathies are discussed, emphasizing those areas that are of particular interest to me. RESULTS The identification and further characterization of the type 1 interferon pathway in dermatomyositis is leading down a path of genomic medicine. Myonuclear structural abnormalities and the presence of nucleic acid-binding proteins, including the TAR DNA binding protein TDP-43, in sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) sarcoplasm are important recent observations. This is an area likely to provide deep understanding of the mechanism of myofiber injury in sIBM. Proteomic characterization of proteins in sIBM muscle, muscle functioning as a lymphoid tissue, and the nature of belief systems, particularly one pertaining to beta-amyloid and sIBM, are other areas of interest. CONCLUSIONS Clarification of disease mechanisms is providing a basis for rational drug development for some patients with myositis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007370	Interferon Type I	Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (INTERFERON-ALPHA and INTERFERON-BETA).	Interferons Type I,Type I Interferon,Type I Interferons,Interferon, Type I,Interferons, Type I
D003882	Dermatomyositis	A subacute or chronic inflammatory disease of muscle and skin, marked by proximal muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash. The illness occurs with approximately equal frequency in children and adults. The skin lesions usually take the form of a purplish rash (or less often an exfoliative dermatitis) involving the nose, cheeks, forehead, upper trunk, and arms. The disease is associated with a complement mediated intramuscular microangiopathy, leading to loss of capillaries, muscle ischemia, muscle-fiber necrosis, and perifascicular atrophy. The childhood form of this disease tends to evolve into a systemic vasculitis. Dermatomyositis may occur in association with malignant neoplasms. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1405-6)	Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis,Dermatomyositis, Adult Type,Dermatomyositis, Childhood Type,Dermatopolymyositis,Juvenile Dermatomyositis,Juvenile Myositis,Adult Type Dermatomyositis,Childhood Type Dermatomyositis,Dermatomyositis, Juvenile,Myositis, Juvenile,Polymyositis Dermatomyositis
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000682	Amyloid	A fibrous protein complex that consists of proteins folded into a specific cross beta-pleated sheet structure. This fibrillar structure has been found as an alternative folding pattern for a variety of functional proteins. Deposits of amyloid in the form of AMYLOID PLAQUES are associated with a variety of degenerative diseases. The amyloid structure has also been found in a number of functional proteins that are unrelated to disease.	Amyloid Fibril,Amyloid Fibrils,Amyloid Substance,Fibril, Amyloid,Fibrils, Amyloid,Substance, Amyloid
D001284	Atrophy	Decrease in the size of a cell, tissue, organ, or multiple organs, associated with a variety of pathological conditions such as abnormal cellular changes, ischemia, malnutrition, or hormonal changes.	Atrophies
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles
D018979	Myositis, Inclusion Body	Progressive myopathies characterized by the presence of inclusion bodies on muscle biopsy. Sporadic and hereditary forms have been described. The sporadic form is an acquired, adult-onset inflammatory vacuolar myopathy affecting proximal and distal muscles. Familial forms usually begin in childhood and lack inflammatory changes. Both forms feature intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions in muscle tissue. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1409-10)	Inclusion Body Myositis,Myopathy, Inclusion Body, Sporadic,Inclusion Body Myopathy, Sporadic,Inclusion Body Myositis, Sporadic,Myositis, Inclusion Body, Sporadic,Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis,Inclusion Body Myositides,Myositides, Inclusion Body
D020022	Genetic Predisposition to Disease	A latent susceptibility to disease at the genetic level, which may be activated under certain conditions.	Genetic Predisposition,Genetic Susceptibility,Predisposition, Genetic,Susceptibility, Genetic,Genetic Predispositions,Genetic Susceptibilities,Predispositions, Genetic,Susceptibilities, Genetic