Cell-mediated autoimmune diseases of the skin: some hypotheses.
The propensity of most autoimmune diseases to manifest themselves in the skin may result from faulty teaching of what is 'self' by epithelial cells in the thymus. Whether T cells learn what is 'self' in the thymus or not until later, peripheral to the thymus, may explain the wide range of severity of autoimmune diseases. Also, I suggest that lichen planus, alopecia areata, vitiligo and psoriasis, as well as sarcoidosis and granuloma annulare are autoimmune in nature.
Morhenn
V B
VB
California Skin Research Institute, San Diego 92128, USA.
D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016460:Granuloma Annulare / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000276:immunology