Epitope spreading.
Epitope (determinant) spreading is the development of immune responses to endogenous epitopes secondary to the release of self antigens during a chronic autoimmune or inflammatory response. The past year has seen considerable advances in our understanding of the contribution of epitope spreading to the chronic pathogenesis of experimental T-cell-mediated and antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. Most significantly, conclusive functional evidence for a major role for epitope spreading in the chronic pathogenesis of murine relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a CD4+ T-cell-mediated model of multiple sclerosis, was forthcoming.
Vanderlugt
C J
CJ
Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Miller
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
D000939:Epitopes