Etiopathogenesis of Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a debilitating inflammatory immune system disorder with heterogeneous clinical presentation and affecting individuals in the prime of their lives between the ages of 30 and 50 years. Unfortunately, the disease pathogenesis is poorly understood, and consequently, the diagnosis and treatment options are also limited.
Almost 90% of sarcoidosis patients show lung involvement. The condition is characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas, comprised of inflammatory cells, including macrophages and CD4 T cells. Although infections and autoimmunity are considered the most likely causal factors, the etiology of sarcoidosis remains unresolved. The primary goal of our research is to provide a mechanistic link between microbial exposures, innate immunity activation, and self-reactivity in the etiopathogenesis of sarcoidosis. In this regard, we are developing novel mouse model systems of pulmonary sarcoidosis.