A multilateral study of the pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases result from complex and multigenic phenotypes that are affected by a variety of genetic and environmental or stochastic factors. Many models have been used to demonstrate autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome (SS). However, it remains unclear as to why specific organs such as the salivary or lacrimal glands are targeted by autoimmune responses. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in the onset of organ-specific autoimmune diseases.