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Abstract: Ubiquitous viruses have frequently been proposed as a cause or trigger of chronic immune-mediated diseases. Infections are reported to be temporally associated with clinical exacerbations in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). We examined immunological parameters of herpesvirus infections in untreated patients with CIDP compared to demographically matched controls. Patients with CIDP were uniformly seropositive for EBV-specific IgG and the disease was associated with a moderately enhanced IgG reactivity to EBV-encoded antigens expressed during both B cell transformation and productive viral replication. Moreover, cellular EBV copy numbers were 3-fold increased in patients with CIDP. In contrast, humoral immune responses to other herpesviruses (HCMV, HSV) as well as virus-specific IgM responses were unchanged in CIDP. These data indicate that host–pathogen interactions during chronic EBV infection are dysregulated in treatment-naïve patients with CIDP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This review deals with the effects of kinins, a family of octa- to decapeptides structurally related to bradykinin (BK), in adaptive immune responses. Herein, we discuss the experimental evidence that kinins may exert influence on multiple players of the immune system (i.e. macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes), and modulate the activation, proliferation, migration and effector functions of these cells. We also give an overview of the possible impact of kinins in human autoimmune diseases and corresponding animal models, with special emphasis on autoimmune neuroinflammation and arthritis. These studies indicate a possible immunomodulatory capacity of kinins beyond our current knowledge of kinin actions regarding the vascular system, and thus the way towards future therapeutic approaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]