Silvia Martina Ferrari, Italy

University of Pisa Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
Silvia Martina Ferrari is a Researcher in Internal Medicine of the University of Pisa (Italy). She graduated in Biological Sciences cum laude in 2002 and specialized in Clinical Pathology in 2007 at the University of Pisa. Her principal areas of expertise are autoimmune thyroid disorders, chemokines and cytokines, cell cultures, type 1 diabetes, systemic autoimmune disorders, HCV-associated thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. Her researches have been published in more than 200 articles on International Journals (HI=47). She serves as an Editorial Board Member, and she is Referee and Reviewer of many scientific International Journals.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

NEW THERAPIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF THYROID AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Session Name
PS07 - THYROID AUTOIMMUNITY
Session Type
PARALLEL SESSIONS
Date
29.05.2021, Saturday
Session Time
13:30 - 15:30
Room
HALL A
Lecture Time
15:20 - 15:30
Presenter
Session Icon
Pre Recorded

Abstract

Background and Aims

Interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-γ-dependent chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11) and the CXCR3 receptor have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), in which the predominance of a Th1 immune related response has been reported. Both methimazole, and corticosteroids, have been shown to modulate the Th1-dependent chemokines.

Methods

We have searched on Pubmed about novel therapeutic targets in AITD.

Results

The new knowledge about the immunopathogenesis of AITD leads to the study of new drugs able to modulate the autoimmune reaction, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ or -α ligands, or antibodies, or small molecules directed against CXCL10, or CXCR3. Drugs targeting cytokines [anti-Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (Etanercept), anti-IL-6 (Tocilizumab)], and rituximab (a chimeric monoclonal antibody vs. CD20) have shown promising results in Graves’ Ophthalmopathy (GO). Also an antigen-specific therapy for Graves’ disease (GD), by inducing T cell tolerance through an immunization with TSH-R peptides, has been published. Teprotumumab (a human monoclonal anti-IGF-1R blocking antibody) has been investigated in a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, showing its effectiveness in GO patients.

Conclusions

More studies are needed to identify new therapies for the treatment of autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Hide