Immunopathogenesis of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Emerging Concepts

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the current understanding of immune dysregulation underlying systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, with particular emphasis on the roles of innate immune activation, T-helper cell subset imbalance, and aberrant B-cell tolerance. Recent discoveries in type I interferon signalling pathways, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and the gut–immune axis are critically appraised in the context of disease initiation and perpetuation.