Antigenic mimicry, clonal selection and autoimmunity.
The triggering of autoimmunity by infection or immunization is often blamed on antigenic mimicry. But the concept of antigen mimicry impinges on our understanding of adaptive immunity in general, and not only on autoimmunity. Here are some thoughts about the consequences of immune mimicry.
Cohen
I R
IR
Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel. lrun.Cohen@Weizmann.ac.il
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008024:Ligands; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology
D001324:Autoantigens; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides