Cryptic infection and autoimmunity.
Infection as an environmental factor in autoimmunity has long been recognized. Numerous examples can be found in which pathogens express antigens that cross-react with host antigens or induce local inflammatory responses that can lead to autoimmune responses through a very complex set of circumstances. Borrowing from the relationship between chronic infection with hepatitis C virus and autoimmune hepatitis as an example, we consider the possibility that infection with an unknown virus having specific tissue tropism could lead to a perceived autoimmune process. We raise the question whether such should be considered for Type 1 diabetes.
Pleister
Adam
A
Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509, USA.
Eckels
David D
DD
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological