title: The immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may represent a T cell dependent immune response to a restricted antigen(s) within the joint, with inflammatory pathways reflecting secondary recruitment. The nature of the inciting antigen is unknown--the stimulus could be an infectious agent or a host constituent. In patients with RA, the centrality of antiself reactivities and immunogenetic influences is apparent. Further clarification of these mechanisms would result in a potential for antigen-specific immunosuppressive therapy.
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D008222:Lymphokines; D008727:Methotrexate