title: [Autoimmunity and toxic agents].
abstract: In certain subjects medicinal drugs or toxic agents may induce organ-specific or systemic diseases. The mechanisms of this induction vary according to the type of toxic agent involved. The modification of autoantigens by a toxic agent might be the cause of autoimmune disorders. Thus, certain drugs metabolized by enzymes are known to bind on these enzymes in a covalent manner, thereby making the enzyme immunogenic. The immune reaction thus induced could be responsible for hepatitis. If the modified autoantigen is a molecule, such as the class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex, which plays an important role in communication between the immune system cells, the autoimmune reaction could result in polyclonal lymphocyte B activation and in a lupus-like autoimmune disease. It is also possible that a drug interferes with one of the element which control the advent of autoreactive T cells and in this way becomes responsible for autoimmune systemic manifestations.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U28, hôpital Broussais, Paris.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castedo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Druet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens
vernacular_title: Auto-immunité et toxiques.