title: Microbial peptides and superantigens in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.
abstract: The mechanisms by which microbial peptide antigens and superantigens might initiate and perpetuate autoimmune responses against antigens of the central nervous system are discussed. A model will be proposed that includes the initial activation of naive T lymphocytes through T cell receptor-mediated recognition of microbial antigens presented by MHC class II molecules. This event might be followed by re-activation of autoreactive T cells by bacterial and viral superantigens. Both mechanisms could lead to acute and relapsing autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Diseases Section, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brocke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wucherpfennig
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D018089:Superantigens; D014764:Viral Proteins