Abstract
Background: The cause of autoimmunity, which is unknown, is investigated from a different angle, i.e., the defect in immune 'system', to explain the cause of autoimmunity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Repeated immunization with antigen causes systemic autoimmunity in mice otherwise not prone to spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Overstimulation of CD4 T cells led to the development of autoantibody-inducing CD4 T (aiCD4 T) cell which had undergone T cell receptor (TCR) revision and was capable of inducing autoantibodies. The aiCD4 T cell was induced by de novo TCR revision but not by cross-reaction, and subsequently overstimulated CD8 T cells, driving them to become antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). These CTLs could be further matured by antigen cross-presentation, after which they caused autoimmune tissue injury akin to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Conclusions/Significance: Systemic autoimmunity appears to be the inevitable consequence of over-stimulating the host's immune 'system' by repeated immunization with antigen, to the levels that surass system's self-organized criticality.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e8382 |
Journal | PloS one |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- General