| Theme | Autoimmune Pancreatitis -- Present Status & Future Perspectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Pancreatitis | |
| Publish Date | 2018/02 | |
| Author | Masahiro Shiokawa | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author | Yuzo Kodama | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author | Hiroshi Seno | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author | Tsutomu Chiba | Kansai Electric Power Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | The pathophysiology of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is unclear. Thus far, two hypotheses have been considered ; involvement of an autoimmune mechanism with a specific antigen and involvement of innate immunity. Recent studies demonstrated dramatic clinical responses in patients with AIP to the anti‒CD20 antibody rituximab, suggesting the former hypothesis of autoimmune mechanism. We recently discovered an autoantibody that causes the pathogenesis of AIP. In this article, we introduce recent studies on the pathophysiology of AIP by other research groups and us. | |