The autoimmune basis of adrenocortical destruction in Addison's disease.
Addison's disease is mainly caused by autoimmune destruction of the steroid-producing cells in the adrenal glands. Key enzymes in steroid biosynthesis have been implicated as the major targets of autoantibodies in this disease. The study of B-cell-dependent autoimmune responses reveals two distinguishable forms of Addison's disease. This should permit very accurate diagnosis of the disease and increase future prospects of disease prevention.
Winqvist
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala University, Sweden. ola.winqvist@medicin.uu.se
Söderbergh
A
A
Kämpe
O
O
D000224:Addison Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D016884:Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D013256:Steroids