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Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease, due to a large number of islet β cells damaged, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin, ultimately relying on insulin therapy. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble sterol derivative that not only participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism but also acts as an immunomodulatory role by binding to nuclear vitamin D receptors to regulate the expression of transcription factors. Increasing evidence has shown that vitamin D has immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory effects, and it may play a role in T cell regulatory responses due to downregulation in the expression of cathepsin G and inhibition of CD4+ T cell activation and protection of β cells from immune attack and is beneficial in decreasing oxidative stress in T1DM patients. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates involvement of vitamin D deficiency in T1DM pathogenesis, with the immune system improperly targeting and destroying its own islet β cells. In addition, polymorphisms in genes critical for vitamin D metabolism may increase the risk of islet autoimmunity and T1DM. In this paper, the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the molecular mechanism of T1DM was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, persistent autoimmune disease that causes severe joint tissue damage and irreversible disability. Cumulative evidence suggests that patients suffering from RA for long durations are at risk of functional damage to cardiovascular, kidney, lung, and other tissues. This seriously affects the quality of work and life of patients. To date, no clear etiology of RA has been found. Recent studies have revealed that the massive proliferation of synoviocytes and immune cells requires a large amount of energy supply. Rapid energy supply depends on the anaerobic glucose metabolic pathway in both RA animal models and clinical patients. Anaerobic glycolysis can increase intracellular lactic acid (LA) content. LA induces the overexpression of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) in cell membranes. MCTs rapidly transport LA from the intracellular to the intercellular or articular cavity. Hence, a relatively high accumulation of LA could be formed in the intercellular and articular cavities of inflammatory joints. Moreover, LA contributes to the migration and activation of immune cells. Immune cells proliferate and secrete interleukins (IL) including IL-1, IL-2, IL-13, IL-17, and other inflammatory factors. These inflammatory factors enhance the immune inflammatory response of the body and aggravate the condition of RA patients. In this paper, the effects of LA on RA pathogenesis will be summarized from the perspective of the production, transport, and metabolism of synoviocytes and immune cells. Additionally, the drugs involved in the production, transport, and metabolism of LA are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pemphigus is a serious autoimmune disease with few appropriate therapeutic options. Although rituximab (RTX) has recently shown great promise in this regard, the best protocol of its administration is remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the patients who need at least 3 cycles of treatment with RTX to identify hard‐to‐treat patients' characteristics, which might lead to consider more prompt protocols for treatment of them. A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted on 45 patients with pemphigus vulgaris who received at least 3 cycles of RTX. Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory data as well as details of treatment protocol and final clinical situation of patients were evaluated. Totally, 45 patients (21 men and 24 women) with mean age of 44.33 years were included in this paper. Women were about 8 years older than men (mean age: 48.1 years versus 40.1 years, p: 0.011) and needed RTX approximately 2 years later in their course of disease (gap: 41.04 months vs. 14.85 months, p: 0.003). Buccal, truncal, and scalp regions were the most frequent sites of involvement respectively. A significant decrease in both anti‐Dsg1, 3 was seen at last visit compared to baseline. However, the amount of this decrement was not significantly different between them (p: 0.083). Partial remission in 31.11%, complete remission in 24.44%, relapse in 15.56%, partial remission on treatment in 15.56% and complete remission on treatment in 13.33% were seen at the last follow‐up session. RTX is an effective medication for PV even in patients with refractory disease and its therapeutic effect is increased with each subsequent cycle. Male gender, severe oral mucosal involvement on disease onset and extensive scalp and truncal lesions as first cutaneous manifestation of disease are more likely to be signs of refractory PV. Hence, it is reasonable to consider more prompt protocols for treatment of these cases. Moreover, late prescription of RTX during the course of disease might play a role in presence of more resistant form of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune erosive disease leading to bone and cartilage destruction. It causes pain, inflammation, and swelling. Because of the severe adverse effects of chemical drugs, phytoremediation is taken to be considered nowadays. It is important to find out novel drug formulations and their mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis to reduce patients suffering from this long‐term disease. We suggest this hypothesis that Resveratrol (RSV) may act its anti‐rheumatoid arthritis effects by STAT3/HIF‐1/VEGF pathway for these reasons: (A) RSV exhibits anti‐inflammatory properties, which can reduce inflammation of joints, (B) RSV reduces the level of pro‐inflammatory cytokines accumulation, (C) RSV can suppress the expression of HIF‐1 and VEGF genes and also inhibits STAT3 function. These molecules and their functions cause the disease progression of RA. Thus RSV can act as an anti‐RA drug in this way, (D) According to previous findings, angiogenesis plays one of the main roles in RA and RSV inhibits angiogenesis via STAT3/HIF‐1/VEGF pathway. By this explanation, RSV may perform its anti‐RA function through this molecular pathway. Practical applications: Resveratrol (RSV) is a kind of stilbenoid that exhibits antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐angiogenesis activities by various molecular pathways. It exists in many plants like grapes, blueberries, etc. and it is the main component of red wine. It is a safe compound and it has beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RSV decreases pain and helps ameliorate swollen joints which makes it a good candidate for RA patients, also it showed protective effects on osteoarthritis by reducing inflammation markers. We recommend the theory that RSV has therapeutic effects on RA via STAT3/HIF‐1/VEGF molecular pathway and we investigate more information about it in this article. As this paper shows pharmacological and clinical documents about RSV in RA, it considers that RSV can ameliorate RA in STAT3/HIF‐1/VEGF molecular pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]