[Anti-cytokine autoantibodies: Review of the literature]

Anti-cytokine antibodies (ACA) are an emerging cause of acquired immunodeficiency, especially in previously healthy adults. The most frequently reported are anti-IFN-γ responsible for disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections, and anti-GM-CSF mainly in mycobacteria, cryptococcosis and nocardiosis infections. The presence of anti-IFN-α in severe COVID-19 infections has recently been described. The search for and detection of these ACAs in an unusual infection situation makes it possible to set up specific therapies in addition to the anti-infective treatment. ACAs are also frequent in various autoimmune pathologies where, in addition to being indicators of the breakdown of immune tolerance, they can modulate the activity of the disease according to their cytokine target. In this review of the literature, we will focus on the epidemiology and the clinical impact of these ACAs in healthy subjects and in infectious or dysimmune diseases.

[Sjögren's Syndrome: Epidemiological, Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects in the Aristide-Le-Dantec Teaching Hospital of Dakar, Senegal (2012-2016)]

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune epithelitis, rarely described in black Africa. We report its epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects in a Senegalese hospital environment. A retrospective, crosssectional study was carried out in the rheumatology and internal medicine departments of Aristide-Le-Dantec University Hospital of Dakar, between January 2012 and September 2016, where the observations of SS whose diagnosis, in line with the American-European consensus criteria of 2002, were enrolled. We collected 370 observations of SS, 327 women and 43 men, a sex-ratio of 1:9. These were 251 primitive forms (pSS) and 119 secondary forms (sSS). The hospital prevalence of pSS was 5%. The mean age was 42 ± 15 years and the time taken for diagnosis was 7 years. The familial forms totaled 47 index cases with a relative risk of occurrence of the disease estimated at 6.3% for firstdegree relatives. The juvenile forms totaled 7 cases of pSS. Dry syndrome was constant: oral (87%) and ocular (84%). Extra glandular manifestations were present in 87%. Arthritis was erosive in 75 cases and secondary to Rheumatoid arthritis. Autoantibodies (rheumatoid factors [49/147], anti-CCP [24/79], Sjögren's syndrome autoantigen A [anti- Ro/SSA] 41/140, Sjögren's syndrome autoantigen B [anti-La/SSB] [22/140], anti-nuclear [14/55] and cryoglobulin 1) were objectified. The histology practiced in 253/370 patients was contributory in 229 of them. According to the ESSPRI score (Eular Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index), 77% of patients had unbearable symptoms. NHP (Nottingham Health Profile) and SF-36 (Short Form [36] Health Survey) confirmed this deterioration in the quality of life. The ESSDAI score (Eular Sjögren Syndrome Disease Activity Index) showed persistent activity of the disease. The evolution was overall favorable. The hospital prevalence of pSS was 5%. It is predominant in women with an average age of 42 years. Glandular and systemic manifestations are frequent. The functional repercussions and the alteration of the quality of life are notable.

T-lymphocyte recognition of beta cells in type 1 diabetes: clinical perspectives

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the activation of lymphocytes against pancreatic β cells. Landmarks in the history of T1D were the description of insulitis and of islet cell autoantibodies, and report an association between T1D and a limited number of HLA alleles. Another step was the study of T-lymphocytes, now known to be central to the disease process of T1D whether in mice or men. In humans, T-lymphocytes, and especially CD8⁺ T-cells, are predominant in insulitis. The characterization of antigenic fragments--peptides--recognized by T-cells paves the way towards new assays for predicting T1D and its prevention using antigen- or peptide-specific immunotherapy, while avoiding side effects that may counteract the limited efficacy of immunosuppression and immunomodulation in preserving β-cells from autoimmune destruction in recent-onset T1D patients. The current need for new preclinical models for testing strategies of antigen-specific immune tolerance is also highlighted.