Prevalence of HHV-8 in systemic autoimmune diseases.

Background: Epidemiological data suggest that some viruses may be linked to the development of autoimmunity.

Objectives: The objective of this work was to determine the presence of HHV-8 viral DNA in whole blood from patients suffering from different systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD). We also aimed at testing the prevalence of patients showing antibodies against an HHV-8 orfK8.

A candidate gene approach identifies an IL33 genetic variant as a novel genetic risk factor for GCA.

Introduction: Increased expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2, encoded by the IL1RL1 gene, has been detected in the inflamed arteries of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate for the first time the potential influence of the IL33 and IL1RL1 loci on GCA predisposition.

Methods: A total of 1,363 biopsy-proven GCA patients and 3,908 healthy controls from four European cohorts (Spain, Italy, Germany and Norway) were combined in a meta-analysis.

Influence of the IL17A locus in giant cell arteritis susceptibility.

Objective: Different lines of evidence have highlighted the role of IL-17A in the inflammatory process occurring in giant cell arteritis (GCA). The aim of the present study was to assess whether the IL17A locus influences GCA susceptibility and its clinical subphenotypes.

Methods: We carried out a large meta-analysis including a total of 1266 biopsy-proven GCA patients and 3779 healthy controls from four European populations (Spain, Italy, Germany and Norway).