A few autoreactive cells in an autoimmune infiltrate control a vast population of nonspecific cells: a tale of smart bombs and the infantry.
Inflammatory infiltrates in tissue-specific autoimmune disease comprise a collection of T cells with specificity for an antigen in the target organ. These specific cells recruit a population of nonspecific T cells and macrophages. The rare tissue-specific T cells in the infiltrate have the capacity to regulate both the influx and the efflux of cells from the tissue. Administration of an altered peptide ligand for the specific T cell which triggers autoimmunity can lead to the regression of the entire inflammatory ensemble in a few hours. Interleukin 4 is a critical cytokine involved in the regression of the inflammatory infiltrate.
Steinman
L
L
Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D001324:Autoantigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell