title: How can dendritic cells cause autoimmune disease?
abstract: Immune responses against foreign antigens are initiated and controlled by dendritic cells (DCs). Accumulating evidence suggests that autoimmunity, involving T cells directed against self, can also be primed by DCs. We propose that DCs could induce autoimmunity following their differentiation by certain cytokines, or because of intrinsic defects in genes controlling DC function. Both processes result in DCs that behave deviantly.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK. hdrakes@molbiol.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drakesmith
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chain
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beverley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma