Animal models of human disease: experimental autoimmune gastritis--a model for autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia.
Human autoimmune gastritis is an organ-specific autoimmune disease of the stomach. It is characterized by the development of disease-specific autoantibodies and a pathology that specifically targets specialized cells within the gastric environment. The autoantigens associated with this disease have been defined as the gastric H+/K+ ATPase and intrinsic factor. The development of experimental disease models has been pivotal in our contemporary understanding of autoimmunity. Here we review mouse models of autoimmune gastritis and their relevance to human autoimmune gastritis associated with pernicious anemia. We appraise some historical as well as recent studies of experimental autoimmune gastritis (EAG), highlighting key findings that have formed the basis of our current understanding of the etiology and mechanism(s) associated with autoimmune gastritis. A precise understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune gastritis will permit the design of innovative and rational therapeutic strategies to prevent, arrest, ameliorate or reverse the disease.
Alderuccio
Frank
F
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University Medical School, Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia.
Sentry
John W
JW
Marshall
Aiden C J
AC
Biondo
Mark
M
Toh
Ban Hock
BH
D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005756:Gastritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017506:H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase / Q000276:immunology; D007437:Intrinsic Factor / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D007437:Intrinsic Factor; D017506:H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase